Oregon School Shooting Claims Youngest Victim, a 'Fearless Climber' Who Loved Stuffed Animals
Five-year-old Rhoam Summer was among three children and a teacher killed in a rampage at Silver Rail Elementary School.
The youngest victim of a shooting at an Oregon elementary school was a "fearless climber" and a fast runner who also cherished reading and his stuffed animals, his aunt said.
Rhoam Summer, 5, was one of three children killed along with a teacher on Thursday at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend. Two other students and another teacher were wounded in the attack. Police have not released the names of the other children killed at the request of their families.
"He never met a stuffie that he didn’t think needed to be rescued and cared for," said Swan Sheridan, Summer's aunt. She added that her nephew had a particular fondness for sharks and dinosaurs, describing them as "misunderstood."
Sheridan described Summer as "a little ball of energy from the moment he was born," noting his adventurous spirit and how he would "climb and jump off anything." She said he was "incredibly fast" even from a young age and was a "very, very happy child."
Teacher Megan Lambert, 25, was identified by police as one of those killed. Her family said in a statement read at a news conference that Lambert had her "dream job" and was known for her compassion and for "fighting for the underdog."
Police stated that 16-year-old Griffin J. John II entered the school by shooting through locked doors. Authorities said John, a former special needs student at the school, opened fire on a classroom of special needs students. A parent, identified as Kaylub Giamanco, reportedly intervened and shot the suspect multiple times. Police found John deceased inside the school shortly after the first calls for help.
The wounded teacher, Becky Drury, 54, sustained serious but not life-threatening injuries to her left arm and right hand and was hospitalized. Her mother-in-law stated that Drury was recovering from surgery.
Community members gathered at memorials outside the school on Friday, leaving flowers, balloons, and stuffed animals. The grief was palpable as residents tried to process the tragedy. "This is an extremely painful day of grief for everybody in Bend, especially Silver Rail families," said Brooke Olsen, a parent whose kindergartner was unharmed.