Oregon Teacher, 25, and Three Children Killed in Elementary School Shooting

A 25-year-old teacher and three children were killed Thursday afternoon when a 16-year-old gunman opened fire at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon. Three other victims, including a teacher and a child, remain hospitalized with critical injuries.

The deceased teacher has been identified as Meghan Lambert, a former student of the school. The child victims were aged five, eight, and 11. The victims' families have not released the names of the two children killed, citing respect for their privacy.

The gunman, identified as Griffin John II, 16, was shot and killed by a civilian, identified as Kalub Giamanco, 36, who was driving home for lunch when he heard the gunshots. Giamanco, a father of two children at the school, intervened by running into the building. Police confirmed Giamanco's heroic actions.

John, who was not enrolled in the Bend public school district at the time of the shooting, traveled to the school on foot. He reportedly threw a shotgun over a fence before jumping over it, but was initially blocked from entering. After being fired upon by Giamanco and finding his path obstructed by a van, John ran to a rear entrance and forced his way into the building.

Police stated that John fired into a special education classroom, where he had been a student when he attended the school as a child. As many as 15 shots were fired during the rampage, and John was left with 44 live rounds when he was killed.

Lambert's family described her as a passionate educator with a "huge heart" who coached children's volleyball. They noted that she once turned down pay for her first coaching season so that families who could not afford to participate could play. Her family stated that Lambert's dream was to teach in the school district where she grew up, and her first teaching job was at Silver Rail Elementary.

One of the child victims was identified as five-year-old Rhoam Summer. His mother was with him when he was named.

Authorities are investigating how John obtained the ammunition and the Maverick 88 12-gauge pump-action shotgun used in the attack, which police said was purchased around his 16th birthday. Investigators are also examining John's route to the school and have seized electronic devices from his family's home.

The school resource officer was not on campus at the time of the shooting, as the officer oversees multiple buildings and was at a nearby school. A teacher who was critically wounded in the shooting and a seven-year-old child who uses a wheelchair were both taken to the hospital.

John's mother, Shauntai Nickerson, 43, stated that her son was a "good boy" and that she would have stopped him if she could. Records indicate Nickerson has a history of traffic violations and was convicted of harassment in 2023.

Officials have not yet released a motive for the shooting.