The short version
- Giamanco recounted hearing children pleading for their lives as he crawled toward the classroom where the shooter had entered.
- He expressed deep remorse for not being able to save all victims, despite receiving national praise for stopping the violence.
- The carpenter is calling for school resource officers at every site and increased funding for safety initiatives.
Kaylub Giamanco has spoken publicly for the first time since he intervened in a deadly shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon. The 36-year-old carpenter, whose children attend the school, described the harrowing sequence of events that led him to confront the gunman, who killed four people before being fatally shot by Giamanco. In an interview with Oregon Public Broadcasting, Giamanco revealed that his presence at the scene was largely coincidental; he had decided to return home for lunch with his wife instead of eating a meal he had brought to work.
Giamanco initially mistook the armed individual approaching the school for a prankster. However, his perception shifted immediately when he witnessed the man fire a weapon and scale the school fence. Recognizing the imminent threat, Giamanco retrieved a .40 caliber handgun from his vehicle’s center console. He called emergency services, informing the operator that he intended to enter the building because lives were at risk, before climbing over the fence himself to pursue the intruder.
The pursuit involved stealth and urgency as Giamanco tracked the shooter toward the school grounds. He described moving quietly to avoid detection, at one point resorting to army crawling on his hands and knees. This cautious approach was necessitated by the sounds of children pleading for their lives, which he heard while approaching the special education classroom where the confrontation was unfolding. Giamanco stated that during this movement, he believed it might be the last action he would ever take.
Upon entering the classroom through a broken window, Giamanco found a teacher engaged in a struggle with the shooter. He opened fire, causing the attacker to fall. The shooter attempted to reach for his weapon again, prompting Giamanco to discharge his firearm two additional times out of fear that the individual might harm others. The gunman was identified as Griffin J John II, a 16-year-old former student who had broken into the school and shot six people.
The incident resulted in the deaths of Megan Lambert, a 25-year-old teacher, and three children, including five-year-old Rhoam Summer. Giamanco’s actions have drawn national attention and widespread commendation for halting further bloodshed. However, the father emphasized that the praise does not erase the tragedy. He described lying awake at night, haunted by the images of that day and the identity of the teenage perpetrator.
Giamanco expressed profound sorrow over the lives lost, particularly those he could not save. He offered an apology for failing to protect all the children, noting that while gratitude for saving some lives is overwhelming, the loss of others remains a heavy burden. His reflections highlight the complex emotional aftermath faced by individuals who intervene in violent crises, balancing recognition with personal grief and survivor’s guilt.
Looking toward the future, Giamanco is advocating for systemic changes to prevent similar tragedies. He called for the presence of school resource officers at every educational site and expressed a desire to raise funds to support broader school safety efforts. His testimony underscores the urgent need for enhanced security measures in schools, driven by the personal experience of a parent who acted decisively in a moment of extreme danger.
The details provided by Giamanco offer a rare glimpse into the split-second decisions made during active shooter events. His account emphasizes the role of chance in his presence at the scene and the critical importance of immediate response. As the community grapples with the loss, Giamanco’s push for improved safety protocols reflects a growing demand for proactive measures to protect students and staff from violence.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian World↗Father who killed Oregon school shooter speaks out for first time: ‘I have to go in’
