BEND, Oregon — A harrowing mass shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, was halted by acts of extreme bravery. Police confirmed that a teacher heroically threw her cellphone and tackled a 16-year-old gunman who stormed a special needs classroom, stalling the attacker until an armed parent confronted and shot the teenager multiple times.
The assailant, identified by police as former student Griffin J. John II, shot his way through locked doors armed with a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun. The attack tragically claimed the lives of three children—aged 5, 8, and 11—and one teacher. Another 7-year-old student and a 54-year-old teacher, identified as Becky Drury, suffered critical injuries and underwent emergency surgery.
Moments of Heroism
As the gunman entered the specialized classroom and opened fire, an unnamed teacher threw her cellphone at the suspect before physically tackling and wrestling with him over the shotgun.
At the same time, Kaylub Giamanco, a local carpenter and father of two daughters attending the school, was driving nearby when he heard gunshots and saw the armed teen entering the building. Giamanco pulled into the parking lot, grabbed his .40-caliber handgun, and ran inside.
Upon witnessing the teacher fighting the shooter, Giamanco fired multiple rounds, neutralizing the suspect on the spot. Police chief Mike Krantz praised both individuals, emphasizing that their extraordinary courage undoubtedly prevented a far greater tragedy, as the gunman still had 44 unspent shotgun shells.
Investigations into the motive behind the attack remain ongoing.
