In brief
A 16‑year‑old former student launched a shotgun attack at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, Oregon, killing three children and a teacher. The shooter was wrestled to the floor by a teacher who threw her phone to break his grip on the weapon. A passer‑by, a dad of two girls at the school, entered the classroom with a concealed .40‑caliber pistol, firing several times and killing the shooter. Police say the incident killed three and injured two more, and no motive has yet been identified.
In the early hours of a Thursday in Bend, Oregon, a 16‑year‑old former student fired a shotgun into a special education class, killing three children and a teacher.
The gunman was wrestled to the floor by teacher Meghan Lambert, who fought him until she threw her phone to break his hold on the weapon. Inside the classroom, a passer‑by—a father of two girls who had been on his way home—noticed the commotion and rushed in with a legally concealed .40‑caliber pistol.
He fired multiple shots at the attacker, killing him on the spot and preventing the gunman from causing further casualties. Police, who confirmed the teenager’s identity as Griffin J. John II and noted that he had carried a loaded shotgun with much of its ammunition, say that the incident left two more students injured: a 54‑year‑old teacher who was hospitalized and a seven‑year‑old child who was in serious but stable condition.
Chief Mike Krantz praised the courage of both the teacher and the father, saying that their actions "saved lives" and "prevented the tragedy from being worse." The motive for the shooting remains unclear, and investigations continue.
National and state officials, including President Donald Trump and Governor Kate Kotek, lauded the father’s heroic response while respecting his wish for privacy. The family of the armed dad, identified as Kaylub Giamanco, has requested that his identity remain private but expressed gratitude for the community’s support.
