Four Dead After Gunman Opens Fire at Elementary School in Bend, Oregon
A teenage attacker killed three children and a teacher at Silver Rail elementary school before an armed bystander shot him.
At a glance
- A 16-year-old former student killed three children and a teacher at Silver Rail elementary school in Bend, Oregon.
- An armed bystander, identified as parent Kaylub Giamanco, pursued and fatally shot the gunman inside the school.
- A seven-year-old student and a teacher remain hospitalized, while the FBI assists local authorities in investigating a motive.
Four people, including three young children and an educator, were killed on Thursday when a 16-year-old gunman opened fire inside Silver Rail elementary school in Bend, Oregon.
The victims died after being shot inside a single classroom. Authorities reported that the deceased students were aged five, eight, and 11. On Friday, officials and relatives named five-year-old Rhoam Summer as the youngest victim. His family remembered him as an energetic child who loved reading, running, and stuffed animals. The teacher who died was identified as 25-year-old Megan Lambert, a local sports coach and Boise State University graduate whose family described her as a dedicated advocate for children and those with special needs. The names of the other two deceased students have not yet been released.
Two additional victims remain hospitalized: a seven-year-old student receiving critical, life-saving care, and 54-year-old teacher Becky Drury, who sustained significant but non-life-threatening injuries to her arm and hand.
Gunman Stopped by Armed Bystander
Law enforcement identified the attacker as Griffin J John II, a 16-year-old former student at the school. Police stated that John climbed over a perimeter fence, breached locked doors by firing through them, and discharged up to 15 rounds from a 12-gauge shotgun. Officers first arrived at the campus at 1:02 p.m. local time following emergency calls, including one from a driver whose car was targeted.
Before police entered the building, an armed bystander pursued the suspect into the school and fatally shot him. Family members identified the interventionist as Kaylub Giamanco, a local resident with two daughters attending the school. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and local leaders commended Giamanco's actions, calling them heroic.
Community Reaction and Ongoing Inquiry
The shooting deeply impacted Bend, a city of roughly 100,000 residents situated about 170 miles southeast of Portland. District public schools as well as local higher education campuses, including Oregon State University-Cascades and Central Oregon Community College, suspended classes on Friday. Hundreds of residents assembled for a candlelight vigil at Drake Park to honor the victims.
A motive has not been determined. Federal authorities, including the FBI, are assisting municipal police with the ongoing investigation.
Source: The Guardian World.
Questions and answers
- Who carried out the shooting at Silver Rail elementary school?
- Police identified the shooter as 16-year-old Griffin J John II, a former student at the school. He was shot and killed at the scene.
- How was the gunman stopped?
- An armed local resident and parent, Kaylub Giamanco, followed the shooter into the school and shot him shortly before police officers arrived.
- Who were the victims of the Bend school shooting?
- Three students aged five, eight, and 11, along with 25-year-old teacher Megan Lambert, were killed. A seven-year-old student and teacher Becky Drury were injured and hospitalized.
