The short version
- Giamanco entered the classroom after a teacher distracted the gunman, firing multiple shots to prevent further casualties.
- The attacker, identified as a former student, killed three boys and one teacher before being shot by Giamanco.
- Giamanco expressed profound anguish over the victims he could not save, despite being hailed as a hero for his actions.
Kaylub Giamanco, a carpenter from Bend, Oregon, has provided his first detailed account of stopping an active shooter at Silver Rail Elementary School, describing a harrowing sequence of events that left four people dead and others wounded. One week after the incident, Giamanco spoke with Oregon Public Broadcasting about the moments he intervened, revealing a complex mix of relief for those he saved and deep sorrow for those he could not. His actions have been widely praised by officials, including Governor Tina Kotek, who acknowledged the heavy emotional burden his intervention carries.
The attack began on a Thursday morning during school picture day. Giamanco had decided to leave work early to eat lunch with his wife and daughters, a decision that placed him near the school as the violence unfolded. He initially observed a person carrying a long gun and wondered if it was a prank, but his uncertainty vanished when he saw the individual fire at a pickup truck and move toward the school building. Realizing the immediate danger to children inside, Giamanco retrieved a handgun from his vehicle and attempted to call emergency services.
During his call to 911, Giamanco reported that people were in imminent danger of dying. He expressed frustration with the dispatcher’s protocol-driven questions, which he felt delayed his ability to act. Deciding he could not wait for law enforcement to arrive, he ended the call and moved toward the school. He described hearing gunfire and children pleading for their lives as he approached the building. The shooter had already breached the locked glass doors of a classroom, prompting Giamanco to crawl through a shattered window to gain entry.
Inside the classroom, Giamanco witnessed a teacher struggling with the gunman, who was armed with a shotgun. He credited this educator with creating a critical opening for his intervention. By engaging the attacker directly, she prevented him from turning his weapon toward Giamanco immediately upon his entry. Giamanco stated that without her distraction, he likely would have faced the shooter head-on, potentially resulting in his own death or failure to stop the attack. He fired at the gunman, causing both individuals to drop to the ground.
The teacher fled the room in fear, mistaking Giamanco for a second shooter. Giamanco noted that seeing her terror was painful but understood her reaction given the chaos. After the initial shots, he observed the gunman scrambling for his weapon. Fearing the attacker might resume firing at students, Giamanco shot him two more times to ensure he could no longer move. He then placed his own firearm on the ground and raised his hands as police officers arrived at the scene.
Police later identified the shooter as Griffin J John II, a 16-year-old former student who had attended special education classes at the school. The motive for the attack remains under investigation. In total, six people were shot in the classroom. Three students, boys aged five, eight, and eleven, and one teacher, Megan Lambert, 25, died from their injuries. Another teacher, Becky Drury, 54, was wounded while attempting to close her classroom door but survived by pretending to be dead.
Giamanco described the physical toll of the event, reporting severe chest pain that felt like a heart attack throughout the ordeal. He expressed a desire to meet with the families of the victims to offer condolences and apologize for not being able to save their children. While he feels gratitude for protecting some students, he emphasized that the loss of others weighs heavily on him. He stated that he relives the event nightly, hearing screams and seeing faces in his mind.
The teacher who fought the gunman has not been publicly named by Giamanco, though he expressed a strong desire to thank her personally for her bravery. Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz noted that the teacher’s actions almost certainly prevented additional bloodshed. Giamanco’s family has requested privacy, stating he is not seeking recognition. As the community processes the tragedy, questions remain about how the former student gained access to the school and the weapon used in the attack.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- PBS NewsHour↗'There's babies in there': Oregon father describes stopping school shooter
- BBC News↗Father who killed Oregon school shooter describes anguish over children he couldn't save
