Silver Rail Elementary: Father details struggle after killing 16-year-old shooter

Kaylub Giamanco, 36, fired six shots to kill the gunman at Silver Rail Elementary School in Oregon, ending an attack that left three students and one teacher dead. In an interview aired on Friday by Oregon Public Broadcasting, Giamanco detailed the sequence of events and the trauma that has followed his decision to intervene. He stated his intention to meet with the families of the victims to comfort them during their grief.

The attack occurred earlier this month in a classroom at the school. Police identified the attacker as Griffin J John II, a 16-year-old former student who had attended special education classes at the location. Six people were shot in total. Three boys, aged five, eight, and 11, died, along with Megan Lambert, a 25-year-old teacher. Another child and a teacher, Becky Drury, 54, were wounded.

Giamanco, a carpenter, explained that he was returning home to eat lunch with his wife when he noticed a man with a long gun. He initially suspected a prank until the man fired at a pickup truck and moved toward the school. Giamanco retrieved a handgun from his vehicle and called emergency services. He told the dispatcher, 'I'm sorry, I have to go in. People are going to die.'

Hearing children plead for their lives, Giamanco crawled through a shattered window into the classroom. A teacher was locked in a struggle with the gunman. Giamanco opened the door and fired. He shot again when the attacker reached for his weapon. Giamanco then placed his gun on the ground and raised his hands as an officer arrived on the scene.

Giamanco credited the teacher who fought the attacker for creating the opportunity for him to enter safely. He described her as a 'real true hero' who 'almost certainly helped prevent more bloodshed,' according to Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz. The teacher had thrown her phone at the gunman, tackled him, and attempted to take his shotgun.

The youngest victim, Rhoam Summer, was five years old. His father told reporters the family was 'broken and lost.' The Lambert family described Megan as someone who always fought for the underdog and those with special needs. The other two boys have not been publicly named at their families' request.

Giamanco said the day began with his family preparing for school picture day. He had taken lunch to work but decided to go home instead, a decision that placed him near the school when the attack started. After calling his wife to alert her, he called his mother to share the news.

Giamanco's identity became public less than 24 hours after the shooting. His mother, Kenda Freeman, read a family statement asking for privacy and noting that he was not seeking recognition. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek praised his actions while acknowledging the emotional weight of the experience. She told Giamanco that his actions carry a 'heavy emotional burden.'

Since the attack, Giamanco said he lies awake after his family sleeps, replaying the events. He described hearing screams and seeing faces in the quiet of the night. He remains focused on the children he could not save, despite the gratitude shown for those he did.

Police are continuing to investigate the motive behind the shooting. The injured teacher, Drury, said in a statement that the gunman shot her as she tried to close her classroom door. The school remains closed while officials process the scene and support the staff and students.