Bend, Oregon, school shooting: Suspect ID’d, previously attended elementary school, police say

The shooting occurred at Silver Rail Elementary School.

By Meredith Deliso, Jack Moore, and Nadine El-Bawab

Authorities in Oregon are identifying some of the victims and the suspect after a shooter forced his way into an elementary school on Thursday and opened fire on a special needs classroom, killing three students and a teacher.

The suspected shooter, a 16-year-old, was fatally shot by a community member who saw the teen going into the Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, and pursued him inside, according to Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz.

Three boys, ages 5, 8 and 11, and the teacher died at the scene, police said. At a news conference on Friday, authorities identified the teacher as 25-year-old Meghan Lambert, and one of the boys as 5-year-old Rhoam Summer. The names of the other two children killed are not being released, police said.

In addition, a 7-year-old girl and a 54-year-old teacher were taken to the hospital with critical injuries, police said. The child was in serious but stable condition on Friday, and the teacher suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

Police identified the suspected shooter on Friday as Griffin J. John II, a Bend resident who formerly attended Silver Rail Elementary School. The suspect was a special needs student, school officials confirmed. He had not currently been enrolled in the school district, according to the police chief.

Preliminary information indicates the 16-year-old shooter used a pump-action shotgun believed to be purchased by his mother, multiple sources told ABC News. 

"How the suspect adopted weapon and ammunition remains part of the active criminal investigation, and I will not be able to address any of that portion today," Krantz said at a press briefing on Friday.

How the shooting unfolded

The incident began unfolding shortly before 1 p.m. PT Thursday.

At 12:59 p.m., police received a call from a driver who reported being shot at multiple times by a person with a long gun, the police chief said. The vehicle was struck three times.

Shortly afterward, the Deschutes County dispatch center began receiving multiple 911 calls that a shooter had entered Silver Rail Elementary School.

Krantz said the shooter "forced" his way inside the school by shooting at the glass panes of locked doors multiple times.

"The suspect went directly into the classroom, immediately to the left of the entry doors, where he fired as many as 15 rounds overall," the police chief said.

All of the shooting victims were located in that classroom, he said.

At 1:01 p.m., the school was directed to go into lockdown, Krantz said.

Bystander 'heroically intervened,' governor says

A minute later, officers arrived on the scene. An officer reported that the suspected shooter had been shot by a community member who had seen the teen entering the school, pursued him and engaged him, Krantz said.

His family on Friday identified him as Kaylub Giamanco, a father with two daughters who attend Silver Rail Elementary School.

Giamanco -- a lifelong Bend resident -- was driving near the school when he heard the commotion and ran inside, according to his family, who said he regrets not being able to save more lives. His family confirmed he has a concealed carry permit.

"He is not seeking recognition, but instead wishes to express his gratitude to the first responders, school personnel, and community for the outpouring of love and support," the Giamanco family said in a statement.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek thanked teachers, staff and first responders who rushed to the scene and thanked the community member who she said "heroically intervened to stop further loss of life."

'We are heartbroken'

Following the shooting, police said they evacuated the school room by room. A reunification site for families was set up at a nearby church.

Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook called the shooting an "unthinkable tragedy" and said, "We are heartbroken. We are horrified."

Thousands of community members gathered for a candlelight vigil Thursday night at Drake Park in Bend. A makeshift memorial has also grown outside the elementary school, with mourners leaving flowers, candles, toys and stuffed animals.

Kotek ordered flags at Oregon public institutions to be flown at half-staff on Friday from sunrise to sunset in remembrance of those who lost their lives at Silver Rail Elementary School.

Classes, activities and athletic events at all Bend-La Pine Schools are canceled for Friday, school officials said.

"A school should be a safe place where children can learn and feel secure. What happened today should never happen," Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler said at Thursday's press briefing. "Like so many in our community, I'm struggling to make sense of a loss that feels unimaginable."

What we know about the victims

The victims of the shooting have not been publicly identified by authorities.

The teacher critically injured in the shooting identified was Becky Drury, her husband confirmed in a statement on Friday, saying they are currently focused on her recovery and "supporting our family through an unimaginably difficult time."

"We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support, prayers, and well-wishes following yesterday's tragedy at Silver Rail Elementary," her husband, Will Drury, said in a statement. "The kindness and concern shown to our family and everyone affected mean more than we can express. We live in a truly special community."

"We ask that you continue to hold everyone affected by this tragedy in your thoughts," he added.

Large police response

The shooting sparked a large police presence as law enforcement and first responders raced to the school.

"Everything they were doing seemed highly trained and highly prepared for this," Caleb Weis, who was riding his motorcycle near the school at the time, told ABC News.

"I didn't see as many phones out recording as you see on many other occasions, just a kind of a shock factor and an immense amount of respect for the law enforcement, first responders," he said.

FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency was on the scene assisting in the investigation. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were also responding, according to a source. 

Some parents who heard the sirens came to the school and anxiously awaited information.

"There's really no way to prepare for something like this," one father told ABC Bend affiliate KOHD.

ABC News' Alyssa Pone and Lisa Sivertsen contributed to this report.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.