Oregon teacher tackles teenage gunman as father shoots attacker dead

A teacher who confronted a teenage gunman inside an Oregon elementary school and a father who rushed in to stop the attack may have prevented further loss of life, police said, as the community mourned four people killed in the shooting.

The attack took place recently at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, where the suspect, identified by police as 16-year-old Griffin J John II, opened fire after entering the building. The victims included three children and a 25-year-old teacher.

According to police, the teacher, whose identity has not been disclosed, threw her mobile phone aside before tackling the teenager and attempting to wrestle the gun from his grasp on the classroom floor. She was not injured.

Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said her actions almost certainly helped prevent further bloodshed. He also praised a father who intervened during the attack, saying those who put themselves at risk to protect others deserved the community's gratitude.

Father rushes into school to confront gunman

The suspect was fatally shot by a 36-year-old father who was passing the school as the violence unfolded. The man, identified to US media by his family as Kaylub Giamanco, had two daughters at the school.

Giamanco, a carpenter, had just finished lunch and was heading home when he saw the suspect fire at a vehicle outside the school before shooting through a window to enter the building, his brother told NBC News.

Police said Giamanco had a legally concealed .40-calibre pistol in his vehicle and fired at the attacker multiple times, killing him.

His mother, Kenda Freeman, told a local CBS station that her son called her shortly after the shooting and was deeply shaken by what had happened.

"He said 'a man went into my daughter's school'," Freeman recalled, becoming emotional as she described the call. "And, um, shot kids. And he said, 'and I looked at him point blank, and I shot and killed him, mum'."

Freeman said she told her son that he had saved many lives. His response, she recalled, was: "Mum, I couldn't save them all."

Police said the teenager had approximately 44 additional rounds of shotgun ammunition when he was stopped and had fired as many as 15 rounds inside the classroom.

Victims identified as community grieves

Police identified two of the four victims at a news conference on Friday: five-year-old Rhoam Summer and 25-year-old teacher Meghan Lambert.

Lambert's family said she had always wanted to teach in the school district where she grew up. They described her as compassionate and warm-hearted, saying she consistently stood up for vulnerable people and those with special needs.

"She always fought for the underdog and those with special needs," her family said in a statement shared by police.

Summer's grandfather, Bryan Jolly, was quoted as saying by The New York Times that the family was devastated by the child's death.

"The whole thing is senseless, and a shock," he said, describing his grandson as bright, mischievous, fun-loving and fearless.

Police said the families of the two other children killed, aged eight and 11, had not yet agreed to make their identities public.

Two other people were injured. A 54-year-old teacher remained in hospital, while a seven-year-old student was in serious but stable condition, police said.

Investigation continues as officials praise intervention

Police said the suspect had previously attended Silver Rail Elementary as a student and had been enrolled there as a special education student. His motive for the attack remains unknown.

Investigators have executed a search warrant at his home and are continuing to examine his movements before the shooting, including how he obtained the firearm. Police believe he travelled to the school on foot, although the circumstances remain under investigation.

Officials have not independently confirmed Giamanco's identity publicly.

US President Donald Trump praised the man who intervened, calling him a "great hero" and saying the situation could have become much worse.

"It's a terrible thing, but thank goodness for a man that had a gun and knew how to use it," Trump told reporters on Friday.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek also acknowledged the intervention, saying it had helped prevent further loss of life. She noted, however, that such actions could leave those involved carrying a heavy emotional burden.

Her message reflected the wider grief surrounding the tragedy: alongside the lives lost and the families left devastated, those who stepped forward to protect others must also contend with the lasting impact of what they witnessed.