Bend, Oregon — Hundreds of residents gathered at a candlelight vigil in Drake Park on Thursday night as the central Oregon city of Bend began to grieve three children and a teacher killed in a school shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School. A day later, law enforcement identified two of the victims: 5-year-old kindergartener Rhoam Summer and 25-year-old teacher Megan Lambert.
TL;DR: On Oct. 15, a 16-year-old former student opened fire inside a special-education classroom at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, killing three boys ages 5, 8, and 11, and a teacher. An armed bystander — a father of two students — followed the shooter into the room and stopped the attack before police arrived. The community is holding vigils and memorials as schools remain closed and crisis counseling continues.
What happened at Silver Rail Elementary
Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said the shooting began around 12:58 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15. The suspect, identified by police as 16-year-old Griffin J. John II, crossed a fence onto school property and forced his way through a side entrance into a special-education classroom, carrying a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, according to the Statesman Journal.
John II fired roughly 15 rounds and carried dozens of additional rounds in a backpack, police said. All of the victims were in the same special-education classroom. John II had previously attended Silver Rail as a special-education student but was not enrolled in the district at the time, Krantz said. Investigators have not announced a motive.
A teacher who confronted the gunman “almost certainly helped prevent more bloodshed,” Krantz said. Two people survived with serious injuries: a 7-year-old girl and a 54-year-old teacher.
A father stops the attack
As the shooting unfolded, a neighborhood father who had seen the armed teenager followed him into the school and confronted him in the classroom, firing multiple shots and killing the suspect before officers arrived, police said. The man, 36-year-old Kaylub Giamanco, was identified by his family through news outlets; his two daughters attend Silver Rail Elementary.
Giamanco’s family told CBS News that he is “not seeking recognition” and thanked first responders, school staff, and the community for “the outpouring of love and support.”
The victims
At an Oct. 16 press conference, law enforcement identified two of the four people killed, as reported by USA Today:
Rhoam Summer, 5 — the youngest victim, a kindergartener described as “very bright and mischievous.” His father, Kelik Summer, wrote in a community post: “My son Rhoam was killed in a school shooting. We are broken and lost, but are surrounded by friends and family who are keeping us safe.” A meal train was organized for the family.
Megan Lambert, 25 — a Silver Rail teacher and volleyball coach whose family said teaching was her “dream job.” She grew up in Bend and graduated from Boise State University in 2023. “Megan was compassionate and had a huge heart. She always fought for the underdog and those with special needs,” her family said.
The families of the other two children killed — boys ages 8 and 11 — asked that their identities not be shared, and police honored that request. Their names are not being published.
A community gathers to grieve
On Thursday night, hundreds gathered at Drake Park for a candlelight vigil organized with a dozen local churches, USA Today reported. Pastor Brandon Blumberg said the crowd spoke to the depth of pain the community feels: “We send them to school every morning, expecting them to come home.”
On Friday morning, neighbors and parents visited the memorial growing outside the taped-off campus, leaving flowers, plush animals, and handwritten notes, the Statesman Journal reported. A silent candlelight vigil was also held Friday evening at Peace Corner, and partners are offering grief resources, crisis counseling, and extended pediatric clinic hours through the weekend, per NPR.
Bend, a city of about 100,000 in central Oregon, had already endured a mass shooting in 2022, when a gunman killed two people at a Safeway grocery store. The classroom remains an active crime scene.
Photo: Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon (file photo).
Frequently asked questions
What happened at Silver Rail Elementary School?
On Oct. 15, 2026, a 16-year-old forced his way into a Silver Rail Elementary classroom in Bend, Oregon, killing three children and a teacher and critically injuring two others before an armed bystander stopped him.
Who was killed?
Three boys ages 5, 8, and 11, and 25-year-old teacher Megan Lambert. Only Rhoam Summer, 5, and Lambert were publicly identified; the other two boys’ families asked for privacy.
Who was Rhoam Summer?
Rhoam Summer, 5, was a kindergartener at Silver Rail Elementary. His father, Kelik Summer, announced his death in a community Facebook post, writing that the family was “broken and lost.” A meal train was created to support the family.
Who was Megan Lambert?
Megan Lambert, 25, was a Silver Rail teacher and volleyball coach. A Bend native, she graduated from Boise State University in 2023, and her family said she “always fought for the underdog and those with special needs.”
Who was the shooter?
Police identified the shooter as 16-year-old Griffin J. John II of Bend, a former special-education student at Silver Rail Elementary. He was shot and killed by the bystander who intervened.
Who stopped the attack?
Kaylub Giamanco, 36, a father whose two daughters attend Silver Rail, followed the shooter into the school and fatally shot him.
How is the community responding?
Hundreds attended a candlelight vigil at Drake Park; neighbors left flowers and plush animals at a memorial outside the school; crisis counseling was offered and clinics extended hours.
What help is available to families?
Community organizations are providing grief support, crisis counseling, and extended pediatric clinic hours through the weekend. The national crisis line can be reached by calling or texting 988.
Is there any further threat?
Police have not indicated any ongoing threat to the public. The shooter was the only suspect, and he was stopped at the scene.
