Bend carpenter details fatal school shooter intervention, expresses regret over lives lost

Key points

• Giamanco was returning home for lunch when he saw the gunman enter the school; he used a .40 caliber handgun from his truck console to intervene.
• He described crawling on his hands and knees to reach the special education classroom, where he shot the gunman after a teacher had wrestled with him.
• Giamanco stated he shot the suspect three times, including two additional shots to ensure the teenager could not move or retrieve his weapon.
• The incident killed four people: three children (ages 5, 8, and 11) and a 25-year-old teacher, Megan Lambert. Two others remain hospitalized.
• Giamanco expressed regret over not saving all victims, saying, 'I want to apologize for not saving their babies,' and suffers from sleepless nights reliving the event.
• He advocates for school resource officers and better security measures, such as bulletproof glass, but refuses to align with political factions.

Background

The Silver Rail Elementary shooting occurred on October 15, 2026, in Bend, Oregon. Initial reports confirmed the suspect, Griffin J. John II, was a 16-year-old former student who used a shotgun to kill four people before being stopped by a bystander. Giamanco, whose children attend the school, was identified as the individual who fatally shot the suspect. Prior coverage established the immediate aftermath, including the closure of the school district and the hospitalization of two survivors.

How outlets are covering it

OPB provided the most detailed narrative of Giamanco's actions, emphasizing his personal trauma and the specific sequence of events, including his decision to hang up on the 911 dispatcher to enter the school. The Guardian focused on his public statement and advocacy for school safety. KSL highlighted his regret over not saving all victims and the role of the unidentified teacher who fought the shooter. CNN summarized the intervention but noted a discrepancy in the weapon description, referring to the suspect's weapon as a rifle in some segments, whereas police and other sources confirmed it was a shotgun. All sources agree on the core facts but differ in emphasis: OPB and KSL focus on the emotional and psychological impact, while the Guardian and CNN focus on the physical sequence and political implications.

Why it matters

Giamanco's account provides the first detailed civilian perspective on a rare instance of a bystander stopping a mass school shooting. His advocacy for school resource officers and security upgrades may influence local and national policy discussions. The incident also highlights the psychological toll on interveners and the ongoing debate over gun access and school safety measures in the United States.

What to watch

Giamanco plans to raise funds for school safety improvements, including bulletproof doors and resource officers. He has not yet spoken to the families of the victims. Local authorities are investigating the motive and how the suspect obtained the weapon. Concealed carry license applications in Deschutes County have increased since the incident.