The man who stopped an active shooter at a Bend elementary school on Thursday, October 15, has been widely praised. Kaylub Giamanco, a father of two at Silver Rail, was heading home for a lunch break when he heard the gunshots and went after the gunman.

After he shot and killed the suspected shooter, Giamanco called his mother and told her what had happened. His mother revealed this in an interview with KOVR, a Sacramento TV station and an affiliate of CNN.

Kenda Freeman described how she first learned about the tragic shooting incident that left four people dead, including three children, at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend. "He said, 'Mom, I just shot and killed somebody,' and I said, 'Kaylub, tell me about it,'" Freeman said.

"And he said, 'A man went into my daughter's school and shot kids,' and he said, 'And I looked at him point blank, and I shot and killed him, mom.'" On Thursday afternoon, a gunman, later identified as 16-year-old Griffin J.

John II, opened fire with a shotgun outside the elementary school in Bend. The shooter first aimed at a driver who tried to confront him, then shot through a set of locked doors and got into the school.

He managed to enter a special needs classroom just inside the main doors. Giamanco, 36, after spotting the teen with a shotgun entering the school building, parked outside and chased John.

According to investigators, the shooter fired as many as 15 times, resulting in the killing of three children, ages 5, 8, and 11, and a 25-year-old teacher identified as Megan Lambert. The shooting left another 7-year-old student and a 54-year-old teacher wounded, and they are being treated at a hospital.

Following the fatal shooting incident, Bend-La Pine Schools announced that all of its schools will remain closed until Wednesday, October 21, 2026, while Silver Rail will remain closed indefinitely. Community members and local officials have gathered to hold vigils for the victims, expressing shock over the violence that struck the quiet town.

Law enforcement agencies are continuing their investigation into the motive behind the attack. The bravery displayed by Giamanco is being credited with preventing a much higher death toll.

Authorities stated that the shooter was prepared to cause further harm before he was neutralized. As the town of Bend mourns, the focus remains on supporting the families of the victims and the survivors of the tragedy.

Mental health resources have been mobilized for students and staff affected by the event.