A concealed-carry permit holder shot and killed a teenage gunman who murdered three young children and a teacher at an Oregon elementary school, ending the rampage within minutes as a heroic teacher fought the shooter with her bare hands.
Carpenter Pursues Gunman Into School
Kaylub Giamanco, a 36-year-old carpenter and father of two daughters attending Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, was on his lunch break when he witnessed the armed teenager climb a fence and enter the school grounds Thursday afternoon. After the gunman fired multiple rounds at a red pickup truck whose driver verbally confronted him, Giamanco grabbed his legally owned 40-caliber pistol from his vehicle and followed the shooter into the building. He heard gunfire coming from a special education classroom where students of different ages were gathered.
Inside that classroom, a teacher had already engaged the gunman in hand-to-hand combat. She threw her cellphone at the shooter and physically fought to disarm him before Giamanco entered and fired multiple shots, striking the suspect and ending the attack. Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz confirmed the teacher’s actions almost certainly prevented additional casualties. Neither the teacher nor Giamanco suffered injuries during the confrontation.
Police say he pursued and fatally shot the 16-year-old
Timeline Shows Rapid Response
The assault began at 12:58 p.m. Pacific Time when the shooter threw his weapon over the school fence and climbed onto the property. Within one minute, the pickup driver placed the first emergency call reporting being shot at by someone with a long gun. Dozens of additional calls flooded dispatch as the gunman forced entry by shooting through locked doors around 1 p.m. and entered the K-5 school housing more than 400 students and 40 staff members. Police arrived at 1:02 p.m., just three minutes after the initial call, and immediately learned a community member had already neutralized the threat.
Young Victims Identified
Five-year-old Rhoam Summer died in the attack, according to a family spokesperson. His mother posted on social media that Thursday marked the worst day of her life. Three other victims—two additional children and one teacher—were killed in the special needs classroom before the gunman was stopped. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek praised the courage of school staff, parents, first responders, and the armed citizen who heroically intervened to prevent further loss of life.
What This Means
The tragedy demonstrates both the devastating vulnerability of schools to determined attackers and the life-saving potential of armed citizens willing to act. While the four deaths represent an unspeakable loss, the swift response by an armed parent with proper training and legal authorization prevented what could have become a far larger massacre. The incident will undoubtedly fuel ongoing debates about school security measures and the role of concealed-carry permit holders in stopping active shooters.