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Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz outlined the sequence of events at a news conference the day after the October 15 attack explaining that the 16-year-old suspect climbed over a fence at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend after throwing his shotgun across it. The teenager identified as Griffin J. John II then shot through the school’s locked double doors and headed straight for a classroom serving special education students where he opened fire. Krantz said the unidentified teacher responded by hurling her cellphone at the gunman tackling him to the ground and struggling to wrest the 12-gauge weapon from his grasp.
The chief who at times showed emotion while addressing reporters stated that the teacher’s actions almost certainly helped prevent more bloodshed even though she sustained no injuries herself. While the pair wrestled on the floor Kaylub Giamanco a 36-year-old carpenter and father of two students at the school rushed into the classroom armed with a .40-caliber pistol he retrieved from his vehicle. Giamanco whose identity was confirmed by his family to multiple news organizations including Reuters and The New York Times fired multiple times and killed the suspect just before police could reach the scene.
All of the fatalities occurred inside that one classroom with victims consisting of children aged five eight and 11 one of whom was identified as Rhoam Summer along with 25-year-old teacher Meghan Lambert according to details released by authorities. A seven-year-old student and a 54-year-old teacher were both critically wounded and remained hospitalized as of October 16 police figures show. The suspect a former special needs pupil at the school had fired about 15 rounds and still possessed 44 additional rounds of ammunition when he was stopped.
Krantz told the assembled media that the father had been driving past the building after finishing lunch when he observed the suspect shooting at a truck in the area and then advancing on the school. The police chief added that Giamanco’s intervention undoubtedly saved people and praised both civilians for their courage in the face of danger. Family members said Giamanco had acted instinctively to protect the children including his own daughters who attend Silver Rail Elementary.
Investigators have yet to establish a motive for the shooting and are examining how the teenager acquired the Maverick 88 shotgun Krantz reported during the briefing. A search warrant was served at the suspect’s home where authorities continue to seek additional evidence. The rapid response by the two bystanders meant officers found the scene secured upon their arrival within three minutes of the first 911 call according to the department’s timeline.
