A 16-year-old shooter killed three students and a teacher at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, Oregon, before being fatally shot by a bystander. Authorities identified the victims and the suspect, who was a former student.
A shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday afternoon resulted in the deaths of three children and a teacher. The suspect, identified by police as 16-year-old Griffin J. John II, was shot and killed at the scene by a bystander. Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz confirmed the details during a news conference on Friday.
Authorities identified two of the four deceased victims. The teacher killed was 25-year-old Megan Lambert, a native of Bend who had served as a substitute at the school for years before securing her first teaching position there. Her family stated in a statement shared with police that "She loved Silver Rail. This was her dream job."
One of the children killed was identified as 5-year-old Rhoam Summer. His father, Kelik Summer, posted on Facebook that it was "the worst day of my life," adding, "We are broken and lost, but are surrounded by friends and family who are keeping us safe." The families of the other two children, aged 8 and 11, requested that their identities not be released.
Two other individuals were injured in the attack. A 7-year-old girl was transported to Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, where she was listed in serious but stable condition. A 54-year-old teacher, identified by her family as Becky Drury, suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at St. Charles Medical Center in Bend.
Police stated that the suspect, Griffin J. John II, was a former student at Silver Rail Elementary and had been a special needs student at the school. He was not currently enrolled in the district. According to Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz, the teenager scaled a fence onto the school grounds and shot his way through locked glass doors using a pump-action shotgun.
The shooting occurred in a special needs classroom. Krantz said the suspect fired as many as 15 rounds overall. A Maverick 88 pump-action 12-gauge shotgun was located near the suspect, who had approximately 44 remaining rounds of ammunition. Preliminary information indicates the weapon was purchased by the suspect's mother, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
The attack was stopped by a 36-year-old community member, identified by his family as Kaylub Giamanco. Giamanco, a father of two daughters who attend Silver Rail Elementary, was driving near the school when he witnessed the shooter firing at a vehicle. He pursued the teenager into the school and fatally shot him.
Police also commended another teacher who was not injured. Chief Krantz said this teacher "threw her cellphone at the suspect and then tackled him and fought to take the firearm from him," noting that she "almost certainly helped prevent more bloodshed."
Classes and activities at all 32 schools in the Bend-La Pine district were canceled on Friday. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek ordered flags at public institutions to be flown at half-staff. Thousands of community members gathered for a candlelight vigil at Drake Park on Thursday night.
Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler stated at a press briefing, "A school should be a safe place where children can learn and feel secure. What happened today should never happen." Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook described the event as an "unthinkable tragedy," saying, "We are heartbroken. We are horrified."
This incident marks the 28th mass killing in the U.S. this year, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University. The shooting has prompted a large law enforcement response, with over 150 officers and first responders involved in the investigation. The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting local authorities. The motive for the attack remains under investigation.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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