In brief
Kaylub Giamanco, who shot the 16‑year‑old attacker at Silver Rail Elementary, said he feels deep regret for the children who were not saved. He recounts stepping in after hearing the children’s pleas and immediately confronting the gunman, even though he was terrified. The 12‑hour‑long ordeal left him with emotional scars, prompting him to seek privacy and support. Governor Tina Kotek praised his actions, while his family requested no public attention.
Kaylub Giamanco, 36, said he feels “guilt like never before” after shooting the attacker at his daughters’ school.
The 16‑year‑old former pupil, Griffin J John II, opened fire on a classroom at Silver Rail Elementary on October 16, killing three boys and a teacher before being killed by Giamanco.
Giamanco recalled the scene: he was at home, cooking lunch for his daughters on picture day, when he saw the gunman fire at a pickup and approached the school. He grabbed a handgun from his car and called 911, telling himself this might be “the last thing I’ll ever do.”
He says he heard children crying for their lives, heard them plead, and crawled through a shattered window into the classroom. He fired his weapon to stop the attacker, then laid his gun on the ground and raised his hands as police approached.
“I was the last line of defence between the children and the gunman,” Giamanco told Oregon Public Broadcasting. “I want to apologise for not saving their babies.”
The teacher who fought the gunman, Becky Drury, was praised by authorities for her bravery. Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said her actions “probably helped prevent more bloodshed.”
Giamanco’s family asked for privacy, and his mother, Kenda Freeman, released a brief statement that he “was not seeking recognition.” Governor Tina Kotek later met with him, offering support while acknowledging his emotional burden.
Residents across Bend have gathered to mourn the loss and remember the young victims, leaving flowers outside the school’s entrance. Giamanco continues to live with the weight of a life he saved and the lives he could not protect.
