The Oregon school shooter identified as 16-year-old Griffin J. John II killed three children and a 25-year-old teacher at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend on Thursday, according to Bend’s police chief. Authorities said a bystander fatally shot the suspect inside the school. Police noted the teen previously attended Silver Rail Elementary.
Law enforcement sources said the attacker used a shotgun purchased by his mother. Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said a Maverick 88 pump-action 12-gauge shotgun was found near the suspect along with a backpack. He said the shooter used birdshot, buckshot and slugs.
Krantz said the suspect fired up to 15 rounds. Another 44 rounds were recovered at the scene.
Oregon school shooter identified in Bend briefing
No motive has been released. Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook said the shooting took place in a special needs classroom, and disclosed the suspect had been a special needs student at the school.
In 2020, the suspect’s mother, Shauntai Nickerson, told a local TV station that her then-10-year-old son had special needs and struggled with at-home learning during the pandemic, saying it would be good for him to return to school for specialized support.
Krantz said the suspect approached the campus on foot, tossed the shotgun over a fence, then climbed over. When a passerby in a pickup confronted him, the teen fired at the vehicle, striking it at least three times, Krantz said. The driver left and called 911.
A 36-year-old parent who witnessed the gunfire then drove into the school lot. Krantz said the suspect forced his way in by shooting through the glass of double doors, then entered the first classroom to the left and opened fire. “All of the victims were shot in that classroom,” Krantz said.
The bystander, identified by family as Kaylub Giamanco, retrieved a legally owned .40-caliber pistol from his vehicle, entered the school and the classroom, and engaged the suspect, Krantz said. “As he made entry through the forced open doors, he heard shooting and saw a teacher involved in a physical altercation with the suspect,” Krantz said, adding Giamanco then fired multiple times, striking the shooter.
Krantz praised a teacher who struggled with the suspect, saying she threw her phone at him, tackled him and tried to disarm him. She was not injured and “almost certainly helped prevent more bloodshed,” Krantz said.
Investigators are reviewing the suspect’s computer, phone, social media and search history, and are examining whether he showed an obsession with violence or past mass shootings, according to law enforcement sources. They emphasized the inquiry is in early stages.
Krantz said the children killed were ages 5, 8 and 11. Police and family identified the 5-year-old as Rhoam Summer. The 25-year-old teacher was identified as Meghan Lambert. Families of the two other children have not released their names, police said.
Two victims were seriously wounded: a 7-year-old girl in serious but stable condition at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, and a 54-year-old teacher, identified by family as Becky Drury, with serious but non-life-threatening injuries at St. Charles Medical Center.
Giamanco’s family said in a statement that he is not seeking recognition and expressed gratitude to first responders, school staff and the community for their support.
Police said they arrived within minutes of the 911 calls and found the shooter deceased and other victims inside the school.
