A teacher and an armed father stopped the teenage gunman who opened fire at an Oregon elementary school, killing three children and a teacher, as police investigate the motive behind the attack.
According to Reuters, Police chief Mike Krantz said the teacher threw her cellphone at the gunman before tackling him and attempting to disarm him.
An armed father, Kaylub Giamanco, 36, then entered the classroom and shot the teenager, killing him before police arrived. Krantz said the actions of both individuals likely prevented further casualties.
Kaylub Giamanco’s mother, Kenda Freeman, said her son was not seeking recognition for his actions and expressed gratitude to the first responders, school staff and community members who helped after the shooting. The family requested privacy as they dealt with the aftermath of the incident, particularly for Giamanco’s two daughters who attend the school.
Bend Police chief Mike Krantz praised the teacher for confronting the gunman and fighting to protect the children inside the classroom. He said her actions likely prevented further casualties, describing her intervention as an act of courage during an extremely dangerous situation.
The shooting took place on October 15 at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon. The gunman, identified as 16-year-old Griffin J John II, was a former student at the school.
Three children aged five, eight and 11, along with 25-year-old teacher Meghan Lambert, were killed, while a seven-year-old child and another teacher were injured.
Police said the teenager fired at a truck outside the school before throwing his shotgun over a fence, climbing after it and entering the building through locked glass doors. He then opened fire inside the classroom, firing at least 15 rounds, according to investigators.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the motive behind the attack and how the teenager obtained the firearm.