BEND, Ore. — Mourners gathered outside Silver Rail Elementary School over the weekend to pray, leave flowers and grieve after a teenage gunman killed a teacher and three children in a special education classroom on Thursday.
Two wounded survivors remained hospitalized Saturday: 7-year-old student Saylor Graham and 54-year-old educational assistant Becky Drury. Authorities said the deadly assault was stopped when a teacher tackled the shooter and a parent entered the classroom, fatally shooting the assailant.
Community Remembers Victims
The shooting claimed the lives of special education teacher Megan Lambert, 25, and three students: 5-year-old Rhoam Summer, along with two boys, ages 8 and 11, whose families asked that their names not be made public.
Lambert, a central Oregon native and graduate of Boise State University, had recently started her first full-time teaching position this fall. Family members called it her “dream job.” In a statement, her relatives said she often advocated for students with special needs and had previously coached youth volleyball without accepting a salary so players with financial difficulties could participate.
Kelik Summer, the father of 5-year-old Rhoam, expressed heartbreak in a social media message, writing that the day of the attack was “the worst day of my life” and stating that his family was “broken and lost, but are surrounded by friends and family.”
Outside the school, parents and children created a growing memorial with stuffed animals, handwritten chalk notes and bouquets. “It’s just hard to take in,” Devon Johnson, a local middle school coach who visited the memorial on Saturday, told the Associated Press. “I’m so glad to see that Bend is rallying and just wrapping their arms around this community, but it’s going to take a long time to get through this.”
Survivors Show Resilience in Recovery
Hospitalized survivors continued their recovery over the weekend. Saylor, who is non-verbal and uses a wheelchair due to a genetic condition, was transferred to a Portland hospital after being injured in the face, according to reports from NBC News and the Associated Press. Matt Sampson, executive director of the volunteer organization Sparrow Clubs, described the 7-year-old as an inspiring spirit who easily forms bonds with others.
Drury suffered wounds to her arm and hand and is being treated at a Bend hospital, where family representatives said she hopes to return home soon. Drury’s husband issued a statement thanking the community for support and asking for privacy during her recovery.
Confrontation Ended the Assault
Police said the 16-year-old gunman, identified as former Silver Rail student Griffin J. John II, climbed an exterior perimeter fence shortly before 1 p.m. Thursday, shot through a pair of double doors and entered Lambert’s classroom with a shotgun.
Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said an unidentified learning specialist confronted the shooter directly, hurling a cellphone at him and tackling him to halt the gunfire. Krantz credited that educator with displaying “true heroism” that prevented further deaths.
At the same time, Kaylub Giamanco, 36, a local resident whose two children attend the school, saw the gunman entering the building with a weapon. Giamanco grabbed a licensed .40-caliber handgun from his vehicle, ran into the building and found the suspect grappling with the teacher. Giamanco then fatally shot the teenager.
In a statement, Giamanco’s family stated that he was not seeking public attention and expressed sorrow for the victims. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek praised the parent for stepping forward, noting that the intervention prevented additional loss of life while acknowledging the emotional weight that comes with such actions.
Investigators said the shotgun used in the attack had been purchased by the gunman’s mother. Bend police officials emphasized that the inquiry into the shooter’s motive is ongoing and will take considerable time, with officers maintaining an active presence at the school in the days ahead.
