Oregon Father Who Stopped School Shooter Speaks on the Children He Could Not Reach

The moment of victory for Kaylub Giamanco was complicated by the sounds he heard as he rushed toward the Silver Rail Elementary School building. While the public celebrated him as the father who stopped a 16 year old gunman, the man himself has spent the weeks since the attack grappling with the specific pain of the students he failed to protect. In a broadcast interview aired on Friday, Giamanco opened up about the heavy weight of that day, expressing a desire to find the families of the deceased and share in their grief rather than standing alone in the spotlight.

The incident took place earlier this month and resulted in the deaths of three male students and one teacher. Police confirmed that six individuals were shot inside a classroom. Among the fatalities were boys aged five, eight, and eleven. Two others, a teacher and a student, survived the initial volley. The attacker, identified as Griffin J John II, was a former pupil of the school who had attended special education classes there. Investigators are still working to determine the specific motive behind the shooting.

Giamanco, 36, works as a carpenter and was not originally scheduled to be near the school that morning. He and his wife had spent extra time preparing their daughters for school picture day. After dropping the girls off, he headed back to his workplace but changed his mind and drove home to join his wife for lunch. That detour placed him in the right location at the right time. He noticed a man carrying a long firearm and initially wondered if it was a joke. When the man fired at a pickup truck and moved toward the school, Giamanco grabbed a handgun from his car and dialed 911, telling the dispatcher that he had to go in because lives were at stake.

As the gunman shot through the locked glass doors of the school, Giamanco heard children begging for help. He decided to crawl toward the building, telling himself it might be the last action he ever took. Before he could reach the entrance, a teacher inside had already engaged the shooter. Giamanco credited this teacher with buying him time and reducing the risk to his own life. He described her as a true hero and said he wanted to give her a hug for her bravery.

Police Chief Mike Krantz of Bend stated that the teacher’s actions likely prevented even more casualties. She had thrown her phone at the attacker, tackled him, and fought for control of his shotgun. Giamanco used this distraction to crawl through a broken window and enter the classroom. He opened the door and fired at the gunman. When the attacker reached for his weapon again, Giamanco shot him a second time. He then placed his gun on the floor and raised his hands as an officer arrived on the scene.

The youngest victim was identified as Rhoam Summer, who was five years old. His father described the family as broken and lost. The other two boys have not been named publicly at the request of their relatives. The teacher killed in the line of duty was Megan Lambert, 25. Her family called the position her dream job and noted that she was a constant advocate for children with special needs. The other injured teacher, Becky Drury, 54, released a statement explaining that she was shot while attempting to close her classroom door.

Giamanco’s identity became public less than 24 hours after the event. His mother, Kenda Freeman, issued a statement asking for privacy and noting that her son was not seeking fame. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek sent him a message acknowledging the emotional burden of his actions. She told him that her thoughts were with him during this difficult time. Giamanco has since shared that the night hours are the hardest. He lies awake after his family sleeps, replaying the events in his mind and hearing the voices and screams of that morning.

The father now sees the faces of the children and recalls the sounds of the classroom with vivid clarity. He views his intervention as being the final barrier between the gunman and the students. Although he feels he was meant to be there that day, the relief of saving some children is mixed with the sorrow for those who did not make it. As the community continues to heal, Giamanco remains focused on supporting the victims' families and processing the trauma that continues to echo in his mind.