36-Year-Old Father Who Ended Oregon School Shooting Faces Sleepless Nights Over Lives Lost

Kaylub Giamanco, a 36-year-old carpenter, shot and killed a former student who opened fire at Silver Rail Elementary School in Oregon. Although he is being celebrated for stopping the attack, he is now focusing on the emotional weight of the three pupils and one teacher who died. In an interview that aired this past Friday, the father of two described the intense grief he feels for the families who lost their children.

The incident occurred earlier this month when a 16-year-old named Griffin J John II attacked the school. Police identified the shooter as a former pupil who had attended special education classes there. His exact motive is still being investigated. During the violence, six individuals were shot in a single classroom. Three boys, aged five, eight, and 11, along with a teacher, did not survive. Two other individuals, including a teacher, were injured.

Giamanco recounted how his routine morning took a sudden turn. He and his wife had spent extra time preparing their daughters for school picture day. After deciding to eat lunch at home rather than at his job, he drove past the school as the attack began. He initially thought a man with a long gun might be playing a joke until he saw the vehicle fire at a pickup truck. Giamanco then retrieved a handgun from his car and called emergency services, stating he had to enter the building to save lives.

He followed the attacker, who shot through the school's locked glass doors. Hearing children beg for help, Giamanco crawled toward the entrance. He described the moment as likely being his final action. He entered through a broken window to find a teacher locked in a physical struggle with the gunman. After opening the door and firing, he shot again when the attacker reached for his weapon. He then placed his gun on the floor and raised his hands for arriving officers.

Giamanco credited that teacher with giving him the chance to intervene safely. He noted that she had thrown her phone at the shooter and tackled him in a fight for the shotgun. Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said her actions almost certainly prevented further loss of life. Giamanco said he wanted to meet the victims' families to support them and hold them during their time of pain.

The youngest victim, Rhoam Summer, was five years old. His father described the family as broken and lost. The second teacher killed was Megan Lambert, 25, who was working in what her family called her dream job. They noted that she always championed students with special needs. The injured teacher, Becky Drury, 54, said in a statement that the gunman shot her as she tried to close her classroom door.

Giamanco’s identity became known less than a day after the shooting. His mother, Kenda Freeman, issued a statement asking for privacy for the family. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek praised his bravery while acknowledging the heavy emotional burden he carries. Giamanco now lies awake after his children sleep, replaying the sounds and images of the tragedy in his mind.