Law enforcement sources told CBS News that the shotgun used in a fatal shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, last week was a birthday gift from the shooter’s mother. The 16-year-old suspect, identified by police as Griffin J. John II, reportedly received the weapon for recreational use after his mother, Shauntai Nickerson, purchased it legally in August 2026.
The shooting occurred when the suspect fired at a passing pickup truck before forcing entry into the school by shooting through glass double doors. Once inside, he entered a classroom containing nine people—four adults and five children—where he killed three students and one teacher. The suspect was subsequently shot and killed by Kaylub Giamanco, a 36-year-old resident and parent of two students at the school, who had followed the suspect inside after witnessing the initial gunfire.
The victims were identified as 25-year-old teacher Megan Lambert and 5-year-old student Rhoam Summer; the names of the other two children, aged 8 and 11, have not been released by their families. A 7-year-old girl and a 54-year-old teacher were also wounded in the attack. Police confirmed the suspect was a former student at the school, though no motive has been established. Investigators are currently reviewing the suspect’s digital records, including his computer, phone, and social media history.
For the families involved, the immediate impact includes the loss of life and the medical recovery of two survivors, one of whom is a 7-year-old child. The broader student body and faculty will face changes in their daily school environment as the building is transitioned back from a crime scene to an educational facility. While the exact date for the resumption of classes was not reported, the return of the building to the school district marks the end of the initial forensic phase of the investigation. The involvement of a bystander who used a firearm to stop the suspect is a specific detail that will likely be documented in the final police report on the incident.
The investigation into the shooter’s history, including his status as a former student and his mother’s previous comments regarding his struggles with remote learning in 2020, provides a focal point for investigators seeking a motive. As of Monday, the Bend Police Department had not released a final timeline for the conclusion of the case. Future developments will depend on the findings from the suspect’s search history and online activity. What happens next includes the completion of the evidence processing at the school and the eventual release of the full investigative findings by local law enforcement.
The Bend Police Department said Monday it expected to finish collecting evidence at the school by the end of the day, after which the building would be returned to the school district. No court dates or legal proceedings have been announced as the suspect is deceased.