WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
  • A teacher threw her cellphone at the gunman, tackled him and fought for his firearm during the deadly classroom attack.
  • Armed parent Kaylub Giamanco followed the attacker inside and fatally shot him before police arrived.
  • Four people were killed, including three boys and 25 year old teacher Megan Lambert.
  • Investigators searched the suspect’s home, seized electronic devices and continued examining his background and possible motives.

A teacher at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, confronted a gunman during a deadly school shooting Thursday, throwing her cellphone at him before tackling him and fighting for his firearm. An armed parent then entered the classroom and fatally shot the attacker.

The assault killed four people inside the classroom, including three boys ages five, eight, and 11, as well as 25-year-old teacher Megan Lambert. Multiple special education students were among those killed.

Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz described the teacher’s extraordinary response during a Friday news conference. The unidentified teacher escaped the struggle without suffering injuries.

Krantz said the teacher “threw her cellphone at the suspect and then tackled him and fought to take the firearm from him. She was not injured in that incident, but she almost certainly helped prevent more bloodshed.”

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The police chief also credited the armed bystander for stopping the attack. Krantz said the intervention “undoubtedly saved people” and added, “The teacher who was willing to stand and fight for her children, that’s true heroism.”

Authorities identified the suspect as Griffin J. John II, a 16-year-old former special education student at the elementary school. He was not enrolled at the school when he carried out the shooting.

John approached the school on foot around lunchtime, according to authorities. He threw a Maverick 88 pump-action 12-gauge shotgun over a fence and then climbed over the barrier himself.

After entering the property, John fired at a pickup truck whose driver had confronted him. He then shot through glass doors or a window to gain access to the school building.

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Once inside, the gunman entered the classroom and opened fire. Authorities said he discharged as many as 15 rounds during the attack.

Investigators recovered approximately 44 additional rounds of 12-gauge ammunition from the suspect or from a backpack. The shotgun was registered to his mother, according to law enforcement sources.

Authorities continued investigating how the teenager obtained the weapon. That question remained unresolved as investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

As the teacher fought with the gunman on the classroom floor, 36-year-old Kaylub Giamanco arrived at the school. Giamanco, a carpenter and father of two girls who attend Silver Rail Elementary School, had been driving past during his lunch break.

Giamanco observed the suspect firing outside before watching him enter the school. He followed the attacker into the building while carrying a legally possessed .40 caliber pistol.

The armed father entered the classroom as the teacher struggled with John. Giamanco shot the gunman multiple times, killing him and bringing the attack to an end before police reached the scene.

Officers arrived approximately three minutes after the first call reporting the shooting. When they entered the school, they found the suspect already dead.

Giamanco did not seek the spotlight after his actions at the school, according to a statement from his mother, Kenda Freeman. Instead, his family emphasized his appreciation for those who responded and supported the community.

“He is not seeking recognition, but instead wishes to express his gratitude to the first responders, school personnel and community for the outpouring of love and support,” Freeman said in a statement to CBS News.

The youngest victim, a 5-year-old boy, was identified as Rhoam Summer. The families of the other two boys, who were eight and 11, asked that their names not be released.

A 7-year-old girl and a 54-year-old teacher also suffered serious injuries during the attack. The girl remains in serious but stable condition as of this report.

Investigators executed a search warrant at John’s home and seized electronic devices. Authorities continued examining his background and searching for a possible motive as the investigation remained ongoing.

The sequence described by police placed the teacher’s resistance and Giamanco’s armed intervention at the center of the response. Officials said their actions prevented further bloodshed and saved lives during the classroom attack.

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