3 children, 1 teacher killed in shooting at Bend, Oregon, elementary school; teen suspect dead

Three children and a teacher were killed, and two others were critically wounded, in a shooting Thursday at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, authorities said. 

The suspect, a 16-year-old male, was shot and killed by a bystander, police said. 

The children killed were ages 5, 8 and 11, Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said at a news conference Thursday night. The 5-year-old victim was identified as Rhoam Summer, according to fundraisers and a social media post from his father. Friends have set up two fundraisers or the family. 

The teacher killed was identified Friday as 25-year-old Megan Lambert. 

Two other victims who were wounded, a 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher, were taken to St. Charles Medical Center with critical injuries. 

Krantz on Friday identified the shooter as Griffin J. John II of Bend, Oregon. The suspect previously attended Silver Rail Elementary but was not currently enrolled at Bend-La Pine Schools, Krantz said. 

Krantz said officers were called to the school just before 1 p.m. Thursday afternoon on a 911 call from a person who said they had been shot at several times while in their vehicle by a suspect with a long gun. Emergency dispatchers then received dozens of 911 calls that the suspect had entered the school. 

The suspect approached a fence area of the school, threw his weapon over the fence and then climbed the fence onto the school property, Krantz said Friday at a news conference. 

The suspect gained entry by firing "multiple rounds" into the glass panes of the school doors, Krantz said Friday.

The suspect then went directly into a classroom immediately to the left of the entry doors and "fired as many as 15 rounds overall," Krantz said, although the exact number fired in the classroom is still under investigation.

All of the victims were shot in that classroom, Krantz said.

One teacher threw her cellphone at the suspect and tackled him, fighting to take his firearm away, Krantz said Friday. 

"She was not injured in that incident, but she almost certainly help prevent more bloodshed," he said.

When officers arrived at the school, within three minutes of the first 911 call, they discovered that a bystander had killed the suspect with a 40-caliber pistol, Krantz said. 

"An officer reported that the suspect had been shot by a community member who had seen the suspect enter the school and pursued him into the school and engaged him," Krantz told reporters. 

On Friday, the bystander came forward and identified himself as Kaylub Giamanco, a 36-year-old lifelong Bend resident who has two daughters at the school. "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," his family said in a statement.

The shooting occurred in a special needs classroom, Bend-La Pine schools Superintendent Steven Cook said at a news conference Friday. The suspect was a special needs student previously at the school, he said.

Multiple law enforcement sources told CBS News the suspect used a shotgun that was purchased by his mother. The suspect used three types of ammunition: 12-gauge birdshot, buckshot and slugs and had 44 remaining rounds of 12-gauge ammunition on him or the backpack, Krantz said. There was no word on a motive. 

Authorities evacuated the school and transported all students and staff to a nearby church where they could be reunited with their families, Krantz said. 

"Today an unthinkable tragedy happened at Silver Rail Elementary School," Cook said at the news conference Thursday. "No community should have to do what we are doing right now. I don't have any words for what this community is feeling right now."

Irvin Ornelas was driving nearby and believes he saw the shooter heading toward the school, where his 10-year-old brother is a student. 

"I saw him throw his gun over and him jump over the fence very quickly," said Ornelas, whose brother is safe. 

Ornelas said he was thinking about his brother "the entire time," and "was thinking the worst during those moments."

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek praised the bystander who "heroically intervened to stop further loss of life," saying the person's actions carry "a heavy emotional burden."

"All Oregonians mourn this loss today," Kotek said in the news briefing. "This is a horrible day. No parent should have to have this kind of day. And no community should have to live through this kind of day."

FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency's local office was on the scene and assisting local law enforcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was also there assisting local authorities, including the Oregon State Police, a law enforcement source said.

Hundreds gathered at a park in town Thursday night, sharing songs and prayers at a vigil for the victims.  

Bend-La Pine Schools said that all schools in the district would be canceling classes and athletic events on Friday due to the shooting.  

Bend is located in central Oregon, about 150 miles southeast of Portland. 

Last year there were 235 shooting incidents at K-12 schools in the U.S., according to data from the K-12 School Shooting Database. So far this year, there have been at least 149, including the one in Bend, Oregon. While still higher than pre-pandemic levels, school shooting incidents appear to be decreasing from a peak in 2023.