BEND, Ore. — Investigators are working to determine what motivated a 16-year-old former student to carry out a deadly shooting at an Oregon elementary school that left three children and a teacher dead, as the community mourns the victims and new details emerge about the people who intervened to stop the attack.
The shooting unfolded Thursday afternoon at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, where authorities say the teenager forced his way into the building and opened fire inside a classroom serving students with special educational needs.
Three children, ages 5, 8 and 11, and a 25-year-old teacher were killed. A 7-year-old student and another teacher, 54, were seriously injured.
The suspected gunman, identified by police as Griffin J. John II, was fatally shot by a parent who entered the school during the attack.
According to Reuters, investigators have not established a motive, and authorities continue examining the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
How The Shooting Unfolded
Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said the attack began shortly before 1 p.m. Thursday when the suspect approached the school carrying a shotgun.
Investigators say the teenager threw the weapon over a perimeter fence before climbing onto school property.
A passing motorist confronted the suspect, who then fired at the vehicle, striking it multiple times. The driver escaped and called 911.
The teenager subsequently approached the school building and fired through locked glass doors to gain entry.
Once inside, police say he entered a nearby special education classroom and began shooting.
Authorities recovered a Maverick 88 pump-action 12-gauge shotgun and approximately 44 unused rounds of ammunition at the scene. Investigators believe the attacker fired approximately 15 rounds during the incident.
The suspect had previously attended Silver Rail Elementary but was no longer enrolled in the Bend-La Pine school district.
Police have not publicly established why the former student returned to the campus.
Teacher And Armed Parent Credited With Stopping Attack
Authorities say the actions of a teacher and a parent helped bring the shooting to an end before more lives were lost.
During the attack, a teacher inside the classroom reportedly threw her cellphone at the gunman before physically confronting him and attempting to take control of his weapon.
Meanwhile, a 36-year-old father whose children attend the school had witnessed the initial confrontation outside.
The parent, identified as Kaylub Giamanco, retrieved a legally owned handgun from his vehicle and entered the building.
According to investigators, Giamanco encountered the gunman while the teacher was struggling with him and fired multiple shots, killing the teenager.
Police arrived within minutes of the initial emergency call and found the suspect dead.
Krantz credited the individuals who intervened with preventing additional casualties.
The account of their actions was detailed by Oregon Public Broadcasting following Friday’s police briefing.
Victims Remembered As Community Mourns
Authorities identified one of the children killed as 5-year-old Rhoam Summer, a kindergartener remembered by his family for his energy, curiosity and love of reading.
His family described a young boy who enjoyed climbing, running and caring for his collection of stuffed animals.
The teacher killed was identified as Megan Lambert, 25, whose work focused on supporting children with special educational needs.
The families of the other two children killed, ages 8 and 11, requested that their identities not be publicly released.
The two surviving victims, a 7-year-old student and teacher Becky Drury, 54, were hospitalized with serious injuries.
The child was reported to be in serious but stable condition, while Drury’s injuries were described as serious but not life-threatening.
The Associated Press reported that Summer’s relatives remembered him as a fearless climber who loved books, animals and helping others.
Residents gathered for vigils in Bend following the shooting, leaving flowers and other tributes as families and educators struggled to process the violence.
Oregon Governor Responds To Deadly Attack
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek expressed grief over the shooting and praised the school staff, parents and emergency personnel who responded.
In an official statement released Thursday, Kotek described the attack as a devastating loss for the community.
“No parent should have this day. No community should live through this day,” Kotek said.
The governor also acknowledged the community member who intervened to stop the gunman and said state agencies were coordinating resources to support those affected.
Kotek, who visited Silver Rail Elementary approximately a year before the attack, recalled meeting educators and witnessing the school’s efforts to improve student attendance.
She urged Oregonians to support the grieving families while investigators work to establish what led to the violence.
Questions Remain About Motive And Weapon
Although authorities have identified the suspected shooter, significant questions remain about his actions and access to the firearm.
Law enforcement sources told CBS News that the shotgun used in the attack had been purchased by the teenager’s mother.
Investigators have not publicly announced a final determination regarding how the teenager obtained the weapon or whether anyone else could face charges in connection with the shooting.
Police also have not identified a motive.
The attack has raised questions about school security, access to firearms and the circumstances that led a former student to target an elementary school classroom.
However, authorities have cautioned that the investigation remains ongoing, and no definitive explanation for the attack has been established.
FBI Assisting Investigation As Schools Remain Closed
The FBI is assisting local and state investigators as they continue examining evidence and gathering information about the attack.
In an October 16 statement, the bureau announced a digital tip line for anyone with information, photographs or video connected to the shooting.
Officials are asking witnesses to submit information through fbi.gov/silverrailschool or call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Bend-La Pine Schools announced that classes would remain canceled Monday and Tuesday, while Silver Rail Elementary would stay closed until further notice.
According to KATU’s October 18 reporting, the school is expected to remain an active crime scene through at least Tuesday as investigators continue processing evidence.
For the families of the victims, the investigation continues alongside an outpouring of community support.
And for the city of Bend, the tragedy has left a central question unanswered: why a former student returned to an elementary school and carried out an attack that claimed four lives.
FWRD AXIS News will continue following developments as authorities release additional information.
