On Thursday, October 15, 2026, a 16-year-old assailant opened fire at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, killing three children and one teacher and injuring two others, before a teacher and an armed bystander intervened to stop the attack. The swift actions of these individuals prevented further casualties, according to authorities.

This incident highlights the immediate and critical decisions made by civilians in active shooter situations, directly impacting the scale of violence.

What the Records Show

The events began around 12:58 p.m. PT when 16-year-old Griffin J. John II, identified as a former special needs student at Silver Rail Elementary, entered the school grounds. He scaled a perimeter fence and confronted a driver in a red Toyota pickup truck, firing at least three rounds, which prompted the driver to flee and call 911. Kaylub Giamanco, a father with two daughters attending the school and a lifelong Bend resident, heard the gunshots and witnessed the assailant entering the building. Giamanco, who was armed with his handgun, pursued the shooter into the school.

The assailant forced locked doors to gain entry and proceeded to a special education classroom. Inside, an unnamed female teacher confronted the attacker, throwing her cell phone at him, then tackling him and struggling to disarm him. This teacher was not injured during the struggle.

The Intervention

As the teacher struggled with the assailant, Kaylub Giamanco entered the classroom. Giamanco fired multiple rounds from his handgun, fatally striking the 16-year-old assailant. Police arrived minutes after the initial 911 call, reported just before 1 p.m. PT, and found the shooter deceased inside the school.

Casualties

The shooting resulted in the deaths of three children, aged 5, 8, and 11, and a teacher. The 5-year-old kindergartener Rhoam Summer and 25-year-old teacher Megan Lambert were among the dead. Two other individuals were injured: a 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher.

Community Reaction

Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz praised the actions of both Giamanco and the unnamed teacher, describing them as "heroic" and crediting them with preventing further bloodshed. Chief Krantz stated the teacher "almost certainly helped prevent more bloodshed". Kenda Freeman, Kaylub Giamanco's mother, confirmed her son's involvement in stopping the attack. Public officials, including President Donald Trump, also praised Giamanco's bravery.

What We Could Not Confirm

The specific identities of the injured victims and the unnamed teacher have not been released. The current medical condition of the two injured victims beyond their initial critical status was not detailed in the available records.