Kaylub Giamanco, a resident of Bend, Oregon, has identified himself as the bystander who shot and killed a gunman at Silver Rail Elementary School. The attacker, identified by law enforcement sources as 16-year-old John Griffin, had killed three children and a teacher before Giamanco intervened.
Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz reported on Thursday that the shooter gained entry to the building by firing at locked doors. According to police, Giamanco pursued Griffin and fatally shot him. The motive for the attack remains under investigation, and authorities have not confirmed whether Griffin had a prior connection to the school.
When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered the deceased shooter and four victims inside the school: three children, aged 5, 8, and 11, and one teacher. Two additional victims, a student and a teacher, were transported to a hospital with critical injuries. Law enforcement sources stated that the shotgun used in the attack had been purchased by the suspect's mother.
The concrete day-to-day change for families in the district involves the sudden loss of students and faculty, as well as the physical recovery of those injured. Families will notice an increased presence of law enforcement and medical personnel as the investigation continues. The use of a firearm purchased by a parent may also lead to local or state-level discussions regarding firearm storage and parental responsibility, though no specific policy changes were announced in the report.
The investigation into the shooter's motives and the circumstances of the firearm purchase is ongoing. Giamanco and his family released a statement on Friday expressing gratitude to first responders and school personnel but requested privacy and stated they would not be participating in interviews. A specific timeline for the reopening of the school or the recovery status of the hospitalized victims was not reported.