Kaylub Giamanco grapples with grief after stopping Oregon school attack

Kaylub Giamanco, the carpenter who shot and killed the attacker at his daughters' elementary school in Oregon, has expressed deep sorrow over the four students and staff members he was unable to protect. Speaking in an interview aired on Friday, the 36-year-old father acknowledged the difficult reality that while he saved many, others were lost.

The incident occurred earlier this month at Silver Rail Elementary School, where a sixteen-year-old former student opened fire in a classroom. Three pupils and one teacher died in the attack. Giamanco described his primary wish to the families of the deceased as a desire to meet them and offer his presence in their grief. He specifically highlighted the role of a female teacher who engaged the shooter physically. He stated that her actions gave him the opportunity to intervene safely, calling her a true hero who deserved a hug.

The victims were three boys aged five, eight, and eleven, along with a twenty-five-year-old teacher named Megan Lambert. In total, six people were struck by gunfire during the incident. Besides the four who died, a second teacher and one additional student sustained injuries. The youngest victim, Rhoam Summer, was five years old. His father described the family as broken, while Lambert's relatives noted she was working her dream job and constantly advocated for students with special needs.

Giamanco explained that the morning began like any other, with the family preparing for school picture day. He had originally taken his lunch to work but chose to return home to eat with his wife. This decision placed him near the school when the violence began. He initially thought a person carrying a long gun might be playing a joke until he saw the individual fire at a pickup truck and move toward the building.

Retrieving a handgun from his vehicle, Giamanco called emergency services and told the dispatcher that people were about to die. He followed the shooter, who fired through the school's locked glass doors. Hearing children cry for help, the father crawled toward the entrance. He admitted to himself that this might be the last action of his life as he pushed through a shattered window into the classroom where the teacher was wrestling with the gunman. After opening the door, he fired at the attacker, shooting a second time when the boy reached for his weapon. He then surrendered his gun to an arriving officer.

Police identified the shooter as Griffin J John II, a former student who had participated in special education programs at the school. The motive is currently under investigation. Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz stated that the teacher who fought the gunman almost certainly prevented further casualties. That teacher, Becky Drury, fifty-four, shared a statement saying she was shot while attempting to close her classroom door. The other two boys killed have not been named at the request of their families.

Giamanco's identity was revealed less than twenty-four hours after the shooting. His mother, Kenda Freeman, read a statement on his behalf asking for privacy, noting he was not seeking fame. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek praised his actions while recognizing the heavy emotional burden they carry. She said her thoughts were with him during this difficult time.

In his interview, Giamanco described the aftermath as a period of sleepless nights where he replays the events. He said he sees faces and hears voices and screams. He characterized himself as the last line of defense between the children and the danger, believing he was meant to be there that day. He immediately called his wife to inform her he would not be home for lunch and urged her to come to the school, followed by a call to his mother to explain what had happened.