Carpenter who stopped Oregon school shooting speaks of the pain of loss

Kaylub Giamanco, a 36-year-old carpenter, has detailed the emotional weight of stopping a school shooter in Oregon. In a broadcast interview, he expressed deep sorrow regarding the students who did not survive the incident. While he is widely recognized for his quick actions, he focused on the families of those who were lost. He voiced a desire to apologize to the parents of the children he felt he could not save.

The incident occurred earlier this month at Silver Rail Elementary School. A sixteen-year-old former student named Griffin J John II entered the building and opened fire. The attack resulted in the deaths of a teacher and three male students. Six individuals in total were shot within a single classroom. Police confirmed that the gunman was killed by Giamanco, who has since been hailed as a hero by local officials and community members.

Giamanco recounted how the day began normally with breakfast and preparation for school picture day. He and his wife spent additional time getting their daughters ready. Although he had packed a lunch for work, he chose to return home to eat with his spouse. This decision placed him near the school as the violence started. He initially thought a man carrying a long gun might be playing a joke. However, when he saw the man fire at a pickup truck and move toward the building, he knew the situation was serious.

The father retrieved a handgun from his vehicle and contacted emergency services. He stated that he told the dispatcher, 'I'm sorry, I have to go in. People are going to die.' He followed the attacker, who had shot through the school's locked glass entrance. Hearing children call for help, Giamanco crawled toward the building. He admitted to himself that this was likely the final action he would ever take. He entered through a broken window to reach the classroom.

Inside, a teacher was struggling with the gunman. Giamanco opened the door and fired his weapon. He shot the attacker a second time when the intruder reached for his own weapon. Giamanco then placed his gun on the floor and raised his hands as an officer arrived. He described himself as the final barrier between the children and the danger. He expressed a sense of fate, saying he was supposed to be there that day. He called his wife to inform her he would not be home for lunch and that she needed to come to the school immediately.

The teacher who fought the intruder, Megan Lambert, was twenty-five years old. Her family described the role as her dream job and noted that she always supported students with special needs. Police Chief Mike Krantz stated that her actions almost certainly prevented more casualties. The other victims included a five-year-old boy named Rhoam Summer, an eight-year-old, and an eleven-year-old. The two older boys have not been publicly named at their families' request. Another teacher, Becky Drury, fifty-four, was injured and shared a statement explaining that she was shot while trying to close her door.

Giamanco’s identity became known less than twenty-four hours after the shooting. His mother, Kenda Freeman, read a statement on behalf of the family. They asked for privacy and clarified that he was not seeking public recognition. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek praised his intervention while acknowledging the significant emotional cost. She told him that his thoughts and prayers were with him during this difficult time.

In the interview, Giamanco described his nightly routine since the event. He often lies awake after his family is asleep, replaying the events in his mind. He said he sees faces, hears voices, and recalls screams. He credited the teacher who confronted the shooter with giving him the opportunity to act without losing his own life. He expressed a wish to meet the victims' families and to comfort them in their grief. He also spoke about wanting to give that teacher a hug, calling her a true hero for her bravery.

The motive for the shooting remains under investigation. The gunman had attended special education classes at the school prior to the attack. Giamanco continues to process the experience alongside his family. The community in Bend is mourning the loss of the five-year-old, eight-year-old, and eleven-year-old students. The school is also grieving the death of Megan Lambert. The injured teacher, Becky Drury, is recovering from her wounds. The police department continues to gather details on the sequence of events leading up to the shooting.