A deadly shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, has left a teacher and three children dead. The attack has shaken the local community and raised fresh concerns about school safety.
Police said a 16-year-old former student entered the school on Thursday and opened fire in a special needs classroom. The victims included teacher Megan Lambert, 25, and three children aged 5, 8 and 11.
The shooting ended after a father whose two daughters attended the school confronted the gunman. Kaylub Giamanco, 36, entered the building and fired his legally owned handgun at the teenager, killing him.
President Donald Trump praised Giamanco for his actions and called him a great hero. The case remains under investigation, and officials have not shared all the details about what led to the attack.
The teenager reportedly jumped a fence to reach the school. A driver in a red Toyota pickup tried to stop him. The gunman fired three shots at the truck, according to accounts of the incident. The driver then called 911 shortly before 1 p.m.
The attacker later fired through the glass of a set of double doors and entered the special needs classroom. Police said he fired as many as 15 rounds during the attack, which lasted about three minutes.
Four adults and five children were inside the classroom, according to the information released about the shooting. The teacher tried to stop the gunman. Police Chief Mike Krantz said Lambert threw a phone at the teenager and then struggled with him for control of the shotgun.
Her actions came as the children and other adults faced danger inside the room. The attack ended when Giamanco entered through a broken window and fired several times with his .40-caliber handgun.
Police said the teenager had a Maverick 88 pump-action 12-gauge shotgun. Investigators also reported that about 44 rounds remained. Officials have not yet released a full account of how the teenager obtained the weapon or planned the attack.
The school shooting has also raised questions about whether anyone else could face legal action. The district attorney said the case remains open and active. Authorities have not said whether the teenager’s mother could face charges.
Investigators are still working to establish the full chain of events. They are expected to examine the gunman’s actions before the attack, how he reached the school and what may have led him to target the classroom.
The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians confirmed that the teenager was an enrolled member of the tribe. Chief Executive Officer Kurtis Barker expressed sympathy for the victims and their families. The tribe’s statement added another layer of grief to a tragedy that has affected families across Bend.
For the families who lost loved ones, the immediate focus is on mourning and finding answers. The deaths of three young children and a teacher have left the school community facing a painful loss.
The actions of Giamanco and Lambert have also become central to accounts of the attack. Lambert tried to resist the gunman inside the classroom, while Giamanco entered the school and used his handgun to stop the shooting. Their actions may form part of the wider investigation into how the attack ended.
The shooting has renewed attention on school violence in the United States. A count by CNN identified the incident as the 36th shooting on K-12 school grounds in the country this year.
That figure reflects the continued risk faced by students and school staff. Each incident leaves families and communities dealing with loss, fear and questions about how similar attacks might be prevented.
Police have not yet released every detail of the case. Officials continue to investigate the teenager’s movements, the weapon used in the attack and the events inside the school.
As Bend mourns the teacher and three children, families are waiting for more answers. The investigation will seek to explain how the attack unfolded and whether warning signs were missed before the gunman reached the school.
