Bend carpenter Kaylub Giamanco details the split-second decisions that stopped Silver Rail Elementary shooting
Kaylub Giamanco, a 36-year-old carpenter, has spoken publicly for the first time about fatally shooting the 16-year-old suspect at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, on October 15. Giamanco, who was near the school by chance, described crawling through a shattered window to reach a special education classroom where a teacher was fighting the gunman. He stated that he fired multiple times to ensure the attacker could not move, saving lives but expressing deep anguish over the four people he could not save. The incident has thrust Giamanco into the national spotlight, with political figures and advocacy groups attempting to leverage his story, while he maintains his focus on school safety improvements rather than political debates.
Key points
- Giamanco was driving home for lunch when he saw the gunman, Griffin J John II, approach the school with a shotgun.
- He retrieved a .40 caliber handgun from his vehicle, called 911, and entered the school by crawling through a broken window.
- Giamanco fired at the gunman after a teacher had engaged the attacker, shooting him again when the suspect reached for his weapon.
- The shooting killed three boys, aged 5, 8, and 11, and a 25-year-old teacher, Megan Lambert, while wounding two others.
- Giamanco expressed regret for not saving more victims and has not yet spoken to the families of the deceased.
- He has rejected political engagement, stating he does not want the incident to become a partisan issue, despite pressure from various groups.
Background
The shooting at Silver Rail Elementary occurred on October 15, 2026, resulting in four deaths and two injuries. Previous reports confirmed the suspect was a former student who used a shotgun, and that a teacher’s intervention was critical in delaying the attacker. Giamanco’s actions were credited by police with preventing further casualties in a school with over 400 students.
How outlets are covering it
BBC and CNN focused on the emotional toll on Giamanco, highlighting his statement that he 'didn't save everybody.' OPB provided a detailed account of his background, including his military training and family history, emphasizing his view that he was 'meant to be there.' The Irish Times summarized the event as a national hero narrative. While all sources agree on the sequence of events, OPB noted that Giamanco is an independent voter who rejects political framing, contrasting with President Trump’s praise of him as a 'great hero.' Giamanco’s family has requested privacy, and he has not yet met with the victims' families.
Why it matters
The case highlights the rarity of armed civilians stopping mass shootings, with experts noting only a few dozen such incidents in the US since 2000. It has intensified debates on school safety, with Giamanco advocating for school resource officers and bulletproof glass. The incident has also sparked a rise in concealed handgun license applications in Deschutes County, reflecting broader tensions over gun control and self-defense in the US.
What to watch
Giamanco plans to organize a motocross race to fund school safety improvements, including better locks and smart school technology. He has not returned to carpentry and is considering how to use his public platform. The motive for the shooting remains under investigation, and the injured teacher, Becky Drury, is recovering.
- Father who killed Oregon school shooter describes anguish over children he couldn't save BBC
- ‘I’m just a carpenter from Bend’: Father who killed Silver Rail school shooter grapples with the aftermath Oregon Public Broadcasting - OPB
- ‘There were ones I didn’t save:’ Father who killed Oregon school shooter describes anguish The Irish Times
- ‘I Have to Go In’: Kaylub Giamanco Describes Killing Gunman in Oregon School Shooting The New York Times
- ‘I have to go in,’ Bend school shooting hero told a 911 dispatcher. ‘People are going to die.’ CNN
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