The bystander who confronted a gunman at Silver Rail Elementary School has been identified as Kaylub Giamanco, a 36-year-old lifelong Bend, Oregon, resident and carpenter whose two daughters attend the school, according to his family and multiple news reports. Giamanco pursued the gunman after seeing him enter the building Thursday and fatally shot the attacker, according to police and family accounts.
What Happened During the Bend School Shooting
Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said the gunman forced his way into the school by shooting at locked doors. The suspect has been identified by law enforcement officials as 16-year-old John J. Griffin II, a Bend resident. Police have not formally released his name, and some outlets, including CBS News, have identified him as John Griffin Jr. III. The New York Post and AFP both use “John J. Griffin II.”
Police have not said whether he had any connection to the school. NBC News reported that the attacker used a pump-action shotgun purchased by his mother in August, around the time of his birthday.
According to NBC News, Deschutes County dispatch received a call at 12:59 p.m. PT from someone in a vehicle who said a person with a long gun was shooting at them. The gunman had allegedly fired at a red Toyota Tacoma pickup truck in the school parking lot before throwing his gun over the fence and climbing over himself. Dozens of 911 calls followed reporting that a shooter had entered the school. The first Bend police officers arrived at 1:02 p.m. and learned the suspect had already been shot by a community member, NBC News reported.
A community member had seen the suspect enter the school, followed him inside and engaged him, according to NBC News. That account aligns with reporting that Giamanco pursued the gunman into the building before fatally shooting him.
Multiple sources report that the shooter headed directly for a special education classroom near the school’s entrance, where he opened fire. Kyle Giamanco and several parents told NBC News that the shooting occurred in a special education room. Law enforcement sources told the New York Post that the classroom was Griffin’s former special-needs classroom.
The shooting killed three children, ages 5, 8 and 11, along with one teacher, according to authorities. A 7-year-old student and a 54-year-old teacher were hospitalized with critical injuries at St. Charles Medical Center in Bend.
Who Is Kaylub Giamanco
Giamanco holds a concealed carry permit, according to his brother Kyle, who spoke with NBC News. Kyle Giamanco said his brother was driving home during his lunch break when he heard gunshots and witnessed the gunman entering the school. This contradicts rumors that he was at the school to pick up his children.
Giamanco has not sought public recognition for his actions. A statement released by his family on Friday said he wants to focus attention on those who responded to the attack. “He is not seeking recognition, but instead wishes to express his gratitude to the first responders, school personnel, and community for the outpouring of love and support,” the family said.
Giamanco’s family also addressed the toll the shooting has taken on Bend. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek praised his actions at a news conference, saying, “To the community member who heroically intervened to stop further loss of life: Your actions carry a heavy emotional burden, and I just want you to know that my thoughts are with you as well.” President Donald Trump also referred to Giamanco as “a great hero,” saying, “Thank God we had him, otherwise it would have been much worse.”
According to his brother, Giamanco is experiencing significant psychological pressure and does not feel like a hero. He feels guilty for not saving more people, and the children’s images linger in his mind. A childhood friend, Dylan Costa, told NBC News that Giamanco has “always been the type to spring into action when needed,” noting that about four months ago, he saved another brother’s life after a motorcycle accident by applying a tourniquet.
What It Means for the Bend Community
The shooting occurred Thursday afternoon around 1 p.m. PT. Police have not detailed the exact sequence of the confrontation inside the school or disclosed further information about how Giamanco came to engage the shooter.
What’s Next
Investigators continue to examine the shooting, including the suspect’s background and how he obtained the weapon used in the attack. All schools in the Bend-La Pine Schools district were closed Friday, along with athletic events and activities, according to NBC News.
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