Authorities named the teenage suspect and an armed parent who intervened, while investigators probe how the deadly Bend classroom attack unfolded.
Authorities in Bend, Oregon, have identified the teenage gunman who killed four people at Silver Rail Elementary School on Thursday, as well as the armed bystander who shot him dead inside the building.
The developments follow initial reports of the school shooting that left three young students and a teacher dead before officers arrived at the scene.
How the classroom attack unfolded
Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said the 16-year-old attacker gained entry to the building by firing multiple rounds through glass panes in locked doors, PBS NewsHour reported. After breaching the entrance, the gunman went directly to a classroom to the left of the entry doors and fired as many as 15 rounds with a shotgun.
Krantz explained that a bystander saw the suspect enter the school and followed him inside. When the bystander entered through the broken doors, he heard gunfire and saw a teacher struggling physically with the gunman. The bystander moved into the classroom where the physical altercation was underway and shot the suspect several times, ending the attack before police officers reached the room.
Victims and the armed bystander
The victims killed in the shooting included three children ages 5, 8 and 11, along with a 25-year-old teacher, CBS News reported. Officials identified two of the victims as 5-year-old Rhoam Summer and 25-year-old teacher Megan Lambert. A 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher suffered critical injuries and were taken to the hospital.
The bystander was identified as Kaylub Giamanco, a local resident with two daughters who attend the elementary school. His family released a statement on Friday expressing gratitude to first responders, school staff and neighbors. The family stated that “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.”
Local officials praised Giamanco for stepping in to stop the shooter. President Trump also commented on Giamanco, calling him a hero and adding, “Otherwise, it would have been much worse. It’s a terrible thing, but thank goodness for a man that had a gun and knew how to use it.”
Questions over the gunman and motive
Law enforcement sources cited by CBS News identified the deceased gunman as John Griffin Jr. III, while PBS NewsHour identified him as Griffin J. John II. The outlets also reported different information regarding his relationship to Silver Rail Elementary School. According to PBS NewsHour, authorities stated that the teenager was a former special needs student at the school and targeted a special education classroom. CBS News reported that police have not stated whether he had any connection to the school.
Investigators confirmed that the shotgun used in the attack belonged to the teenager’s mother, having been registered to or purchased by her. Law enforcement officials said they have not determined a motive. Investigators are currently examining the teenager’s computer, mobile phone, internet search records and social media accounts to determine whether he was obsessed with previous mass shootings or violent acts.
District closures and community mourning
All schools across the district remained closed on Friday while yellow police tape surrounded the crime scene at Silver Rail Elementary School. Community members gathered at a local park to sing hymns and hold prayers, where Oregon Governor Tina Kotek spoke to residents and urged them to care for one another through the grief.
Parents and students described their panic during the attack. A 10-year-old student recounted locking his classroom door and hiding behind lockers with weeping classmates. Brooke Olsen, whose daughter attends kindergarten at the school, said parents are finding the tragedy painful and difficult to process. The shooting marks the 28th mass killing recorded in the United States this year, according to a tally by The Associated Press cited by PBS NewsHour.
