Four Dead in Oregon School Shooting

Mallory O'Neill '29

On October 15th, four people were killed, and two were severely injured, in a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon. The shooter, identified as 16-year-old Griffin J. John II, targeted a special needs classroom of the school, consisting of four adults and five children.

Before entering the school, John was confronted by a nearby driver. He shot at the vehicle, hitting it at least three times before leaving. The driver called authorities just before 1:00 P.M.

In just a few minutes, John forced himself inside the school building. He shot through the glass doors and immediately made his way into the special needs classroom he was formerly a student in. Here, he fired as many as fifteen rounds. 

A second nearby driver, and father of two kids at Silver Rail Elementary, Kaylub Giamanco, had witnessed the initial encounter between John and the first driver. And so, he followed John into the building, armed with a gun of his own.

When inside, Giamanco saw a teacher struggling to tackle John, and fired multiple rounds, ultimately killing the shooter. Later, Giamanco detailed the experience to his mother, saying, “A man went into my daughters’ school and shot kids… I looked at him point blank, and I shot and killed him, mom.”

Giamanco, called “a great hero” by President Trump, has struggled with his actions in the aftermath of the shooting. He couldn’t save all the children, and with that reality has come an undeniable burden of guilt.

Three children were killed in the attack: 5-year-old Rhoam Summer (pictured on the left), and two others, aged eight and eleven, whose families have chosen to remain anonymous. Rhoam’s parents described him as someone who “wanted to bring the brightest light into the world.” Elementary teacher Megan Lambert (pictured on the right), who previously described her position at Silver Rail as her “dream job,” was also killed. Two others—7-year-old Saylor Graham and 54-year-old Becky Drury—were severely injured, and are presently hospitalized.

The Bend community is mourning the loss of their loved ones together. Silver Rail Elementary will remain closed until further notice as they navigate this tragedy.