Silver Rail Elementary shooter killed by father who admits he could not save more

Kaylub Giamanco, a 36-year-old carpenter, has expressed deep sorrow over the three boys and one teacher killed at Silver Rail Elementary School in Oregon, admitting he wishes he could have saved more students during the attack earlier this month. In an interview aired on Friday, Giamanco said he wants to apologize to the parents of the victims for not saving their children. He stated that while he feels gratitude for those he helped, the pain of those he could not reach weighs heavily on him.

The incident occurred earlier this month when Griffin J John II, a 16-year-old former pupil who had attended special education classes at the school, opened fire in a classroom. Three male students, aged five, eight, and 11, and a teacher were killed. Four others were shot, including a teacher and a child. Police are still investigating the motive behind the attack.

Giamanco was near the school by chance. He had decided to return home for lunch with his wife instead of eating at his workplace, a choice that placed him close to the building as the shooting began. He initially thought the long gun he saw might be a prank until the attacker fired at a pickup truck and moved toward the school. Giamanco retrieved a handgun from his vehicle and called emergency services before entering the building.

Inside, he found a teacher struggling with the gunman. Giamanco credited this teacher with buying him enough time to intervene without losing his own life. He opened the classroom door and fired, shooting the attacker again when the boy reached for his weapon. Giamanco then raised his hands and placed his gun on the floor for a responding officer.

The youngest victim was Rhoam Summer, five. His father described the family as broken and lost. The teacher killed was Megan Lambert, 25, whom her family said worked her dream job and fought for students with special needs. Another teacher, Becky Drury, 54, was wounded when the gunman shot her as she tried to close her classroom door. The other two boys were not publicly named at their families' request.

Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said the teacher who fought the attacker almost certainly prevented more casualties. She threw her phone at the gunman, tackled him, and fought to take his shotgun. Giamanco said he wants to meet the victims' families to hold them and cry with them. He also wants to hug the teacher who fought the shooter, calling her a true hero.

Giamanco's identity became public less than a day after the shooting. His mother, Kenda Freeman, read a statement saying he was not seeking recognition. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek praised his actions while acknowledging the emotional burden he now carries. Giamanco told broadcasters that he lies awake at night replaying the events, seeing faces and hearing screams.