Crime
Silver Rail Elementary School Shooting Suspect Identified as 16-Year-Old Griffin J. John II
BEND, Oregon — The suspect in the deadly shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, has been identified in preliminary reports as 16-year-old Griffin J. John II, according to information provided for this report.
Kaylub Giamanco has also been identified in the supplied account as the bystander who reportedly confronted and shot the teenage suspect during the October 15, 2026, incident.
According to a family member who spoke with Channel2 NOW, Giamanco was returning home during his lunch break when he encountered the emergency near the school, where his two daughters reportedly attend classes. He lives nearby and allegedly rushed toward the school after hearing gunshots and realizing that children, including his daughters, could be in danger.
Giamanco’s reported intervention has prompted expressions of gratitude and calls for him to be recognized for his actions. However, the suspect’s identity, Giamanco’s role and the precise sequence of events should be confirmed through official statements before being presented as established facts.
The account provided to Channel2 NOW describes Giamanco as a father who was returning home during his lunch break when the shooting unfolded. After hearing gunfire near Silver Rail Elementary School, he reportedly saw the suspected shooter moving toward or entering the building.
Because his two daughters attended the school, Giamanco allegedly ran toward the scene rather than away from it. Preliminary accounts say he confronted the suspect and shot him, and the 16-year-old reportedly died.
The supplied information does not independently establish the exact location of the confrontation, the actions of those involved immediately beforehand or whether investigators have formally confirmed Giamanco’s identity as the person who shot the suspect.
Nevertheless, the account has drawn strong emotional reactions from people who view his reported actions as an attempt to protect his daughters and other children inside the school.
Some supporters have called for Giamanco to receive a medal or other formal recognition. Any official commendation, however, would need to be confirmed by the relevant authorities.
The supplied report identifies Griffin J. John II, 16, as the suspected shooter in the Silver Rail Elementary School attack. The available information describes him as a Bend resident and alleges that a shotgun was used during the incident.
The reported circumstances surrounding Griffin’s death remain an important part of the investigation. Early accounts indicate that a bystander shot the suspect during the emergency, but investigators would need to confirm the individual’s identity and establish the precise sequence of events.
The suspect’s identification and the circumstances of the shooting should be attributed to law enforcement once an official statement is available.
The October 15 shooting prompted a major emergency response and left the community grieving. Preliminary information supplied for this report indicates that four victims—three children and one adult—were killed. The suspected shooter was also reported dead, bringing the reported total to five fatalities.
Five-year-old Rhoam Summer was identified in the supplied information as the first named victim. Two other children, reportedly ages 8 and 11, were also described as having died. An adult teacher was reported among the victims.
Two additional people—a 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher—were reportedly transported for medical treatment in critical condition.
The identities of the other victims, the final casualty figures and the latest conditions of the injured people require confirmation from law enforcement or the appropriate authorities. The information available for this article does not establish that the teacher who died was killed while protecting students, so that characterization should not be presented as confirmed.
Bend police reportedly issued an active-shooter alert at approximately 1:17 p.m. on Thursday, warning the public of a major law enforcement presence at Silver Rail Elementary School and urging people to avoid the surrounding area.
Police, firefighters and emergency medical personnel responded to the campus. Nearby schools, including Caldera High School and Jewell Elementary, were reportedly placed under lockdown as a precaution.
Authorities also designated Journey Church, located at 61303 S Highway 97 near Goodwill and Dairy Queen, as a family reunification location. Parents and guardians were directed there to reconnect with students and receive information during the emergency response.
The reported deaths of children and an adult educator have left families and the wider Bend community facing an immense tragedy. Rhoam Summer, just 5 years old, has become one of the first children named in the reports surrounding the shooting.
As the investigation continues, families are waiting for verified information and the opportunity to grieve their loved ones. Those affected by the shooting may also face a difficult period of emotional recovery.
Giamanco’s reported actions have added another dimension to the story, with supporters expressing gratitude for a father who allegedly rushed toward danger after hearing gunshots near the school attended by his daughters. His family’s experience and the well-being of his children also deserve consideration as details emerge.
🙏💔 Our thoughts are with the families of Rhoam Summer and the other reported victims, the injured child and teacher, and everyone affected by this devastating incident. May those who lost their lives rest in peace, and may their loved ones find strength and support during this heartbreaking time.
Crime
Teacher Killed in Silver Rail Elementary School Shooting Identified as 25-Year-Old Megan Lambert
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 Griffin J. John 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 Griffin J. John 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.