BEND, Oregon — Megan Lambert, a 25-year-old teacher and volleyball coach remembered for her compassion and generosity, has been identified as the adult killed in the shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon. Her death has devastated her family, friends, colleagues, students and the wider community.

Known affectionately by many as “Coach Megan,” Lambert was described by her family as a compassionate person with an enormous heart who consistently stood up for people who needed support. She loved Silver Rail Elementary School and considered her teaching position there her dream job, according to a statement shared by her family.

Her death was reported following the October 15, 2026, school shooting that claimed the lives of three children and one adult, according to preliminary information provided for this report. The 16-year-old suspect, identified in the supplied accounts as John J. Griffin II, was also reported dead.

In a statement following her death, Lambert’s family described her as someone who cared deeply about children and advocated for people who were often overlooked.

“She loved Silver Rail. This was her dream job,” the family said, describing Lambert as compassionate and big-hearted. They also emphasized her commitment to supporting people with special needs and standing up for those who needed someone in their corner.

Her family extended its thoughts and prayers to the other families affected by the tragedy, acknowledging the pain being experienced throughout the school community.

“Megan loved those children, and so we will show you love for her,” the family said, expressing solidarity with the families whose lives have also been changed by the shooting.

The statement reflects the deep affection Lambert’s loved ones held for her and the importance she placed on caring for others.

Beyond her work as a teacher, Lambert also coached volleyball at Central Oregon Volleyball Club. Her generosity was evident from her first year as a coach, when she reportedly declined payment and asked that the money instead be directed toward families who could not afford their children’s participation.

Her decision helped create opportunities for young athletes who might otherwise have been unable to play. Those who knew her remembered her as someone who wanted every child to have a chance, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances.

The gesture reflected the values that reportedly guided Lambert in both her professional and personal life: compassion, inclusion and a determination to help people who needed support.

She was remembered not simply as a teacher or coach, but as a daughter, sister and friend whose kindness made a lasting impression on those around her.

One person who knew Lambert shared an emotional tribute that captured the grief surrounding her death.

“She would have given you the shirt off her back, but you didn’t give her the chance… you didn’t give her the chance to be the great mom that we all knew she would be.”

The words express the heartbreak of losing someone whose life held so much promise. At just 25, Lambert had built meaningful relationships with children, families and colleagues, while continuing to make a difference through teaching and coaching.

Her loved ones are now left to mourn a life cut short and remember the generosity and compassion that defined her.

According to the preliminary accounts supplied for this report, the shooting occurred at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend on Thursday, October 15, 2026. Three children, identified in those accounts as ages 5, 8 and 11, and Lambert, 25, were reported killed.

Two additional people—a 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher—were reported injured and transported for medical care. Their current conditions were not provided in the information available for this article.

The suspected shooter was identified in the supplied reports as 16-year-old John J. Griffin II. Accounts attributed to law enforcement sources and reported by the New York Post described an alleged attempt to enter the school through the front before the suspect reportedly gained access through a rear entrance.

Those reports also alleged that the suspect had previously attended a special education classroom at the school. The precise sequence of events, the suspect’s movements inside the building and the circumstances surrounding the reported injuries should be confirmed through official investigative statements.

Kaylub Giamanco was identified in the supplied account as the armed bystander who reportedly shot the suspect. According to the account, Giamanco was returning home during his lunch break when he encountered the emergency near the school, where his two daughters reportedly attended classes. His role and the exact circumstances of the confrontation should be attributed to authorities once officially confirmed.

The supplied information also alleges that the shotgun had been legally purchased by the suspect’s mother around his birthday in August. That claim requires confirmation from investigators and should not be treated as an established finding without an authoritative source.

As Lambert’s family grieves, they have also expressed concern for the other families affected by the shooting. Their statement emphasized that the pain extends beyond one household and that the school community is facing an unimaginable loss.

Lambert’s legacy will be remembered through the children she taught, the athletes she supported and the families she helped. Her decision to forgo coaching pay so that other children could participate in volleyball offers a powerful example of the generosity that her loved ones say defined her.

💔🕊️ Our heartfelt condolences go out to Megan Lambert’s family, friends, students and colleagues. May they find strength and comfort in the memories of her kindness, and may all the families affected by the Silver Rail Elementary School tragedy receive the support they need during this devastating time.

Megan Lambert was only 25. Her life and the compassion she showed others will be remembered by those whose lives she touched.