BEND, Ore. — Three children and a teacher were killed Thursday afternoon when an armed teenager forced his way into Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, before being shot dead by an armed bystander, authorities said.
The shooting began shortly before 1 p.m. at the school, which serves between 400 and 450 students. Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said emergency dispatchers received an initial call at 12:59 p.m. from a motorist reporting that someone had opened fire on a vehicle in the school parking lot. Within minutes, multiple callers reported that an active shooter had breached the building by shooting through locked doors.
Officers reached the campus by 1:02 p.m., Krantz said, moments after a community member who saw the gunman enter pursued the suspect inside and fatally shot him. Police officers entered immediately afterward, confirmed the suspect was dead, and rendered emergency aid to victims, Krantz said.
Remembering the victims
Officials confirmed the slain children were 5, 8 and 11 years old. A 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher were hospitalized in critical condition.
Family members identified the youngest victim as 5-year-old kindergartner Rhoam Summer. In a public message posted to social media and reported by NBC News, his mother, Kelik Summer, wrote that Thursday was “the worst day of my life,” adding that relatives are “broken and lost.” The boy’s grandfather, Bryan Jolly, described him to The New York Times as “very bright and very mischievous and very fun-loving and totally without fear.”
The critically injured educator was identified by her husband as Rebecca Drury, NBC News reported. Drury underwent emergency medical care alongside the injured 7-year-old child, who uses a wheelchair and was shot in the face, according to family acquaintances. Parents told NBC News that the gunfire occurred inside a special education classroom, though police officials have not publicly confirmed that detail.
Bystander intervention and weapon details
Police credited the armed bystander with ending the rampage quickly. NBC News reported the man was Kaylub Giamanco, 36, a father of two Silver Rail students, citing his brother, Kyle Giamanco. The brother said Kaylub felt an emotional burden in the aftermath of the violence and struggled with not being able to save more victims.
Investigators said the shooter was a 16-year-old Bend resident. Media outlets including NBC News and The Washington Post reported the gunman was identified by law enforcement sources as John J. Griffin II, though officials have not publicly confirmed the name. An anonymous law enforcement source told The Associated Press that the teenager used a pump-action shotgun that had been purchased by his mother.
Community response and ongoing inquiry
Hundreds of Bend residents gathered Thursday night for a candlelight vigil at Drake Park. Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler and Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek attended to offer condolences to grieving families.
“All Oregonians mourn this loss today,” Kotek said, expressing gratitude to the armed citizen whose actions halted further violence.
All public schools across the Bend-La Pine district were closed on Friday. The FBI confirmed its local field office is aiding Bend police in the investigation. Authorities have not determined a motive for the attack, and police have not disclosed whether the gunman had any prior connection to the school or its students.
