Kaylub Giamanco, a 36-year-old carpenter and father of two, was driving past Silver Rail Elementary School in Oregon on his way home for lunch on Thursday when he heard gunshots.
Giamanco, whose two daughters attend the school, followed the suspected shooter, 16-year-old John J Griffin, into the building, according to his brother, Kyle Giamanco, who spoke to NBC News.
The father, who owns a concealed firearm, confronted the teenager inside the school’s special education room and shot him, according to the account provided by his family.
The shooting left four people dead, while a seven-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher survived with critical injuries.
Family Says Father Is Haunted by What He Witnessed
Despite his actions during the attack, Giamanco does not consider himself a hero, his brother said.
Kyle explained that his brother has been deeply affected by what he witnessed inside the classroom and feels guilty that he was unable to save more people.
The family also knows the seven-year-old child who was wounded in the shooting. The child uses a wheelchair and was shot in the face.
According to Kyle, the child is recovering after undergoing surgery.
Five-Year-Old Boy Identified as First Victim
The first victim publicly identified following the attack was five-year-old Rhoam Summer.
His father, Kelik Summer, announced the death in a Facebook post, describing the shooting as the worst day of his life.
He said the family was devastated but had been surrounded by friends and relatives providing support.
The circumstances of Rhoam’s death have added to the grief of families affected by the attack at the elementary school.
Suspect Allegedly Used Shotgun to Enter School
Investigators are examining how Griffin gained access to the school and began shooting.
According to the report, the teenager used a shotgun believed to have been given to him by his mother to break the locks on a security vestibule designed to help protect the building.
He then entered the special education section of Silver Rail Elementary and opened fire.
A seven-year-old wheelchair user and a 54-year-old teacher were among those shot. Both survived but remained critically ill in hospital, according to the report.
Children Traumatized After Classroom Shooting
The attack has left surviving pupils frightened and struggling to cope with what happened.
Some children had dressed for school picture day when the shooting occurred.
Hannah Ferrie told The New York Times that her daughters, aged five and seven, were deeply traumatised by the incident.
Her seven-year-old daughter was sitting beside her second-grade teacher when they heard gunshots and glass breaking. The child was forced to remain silent while the danger unfolded.
Ferrie said her daughter has since become afraid to leave her mother’s side and is too frightened to sleep alone.
The mother described feeling relief that her children survived while also feeling profound guilt for families whose children were killed or injured.
She also criticised the state of school safety in the United States, arguing that children’s lives should take priority in debates over gun rights.
Witness Says Gunman Fired at His Vehicle
Another witness reported seeing the teenager approaching Silver Rail Elementary with a firearm.
The man was sitting in a red Toyota Tacoma with the engine running outside the school when he noticed the armed teenager and confronted him.
The suspect allegedly responded by firing several shots at the vehicle.
Photographs shared online showed multiple bullet holes along the lower passenger-side door and near the front of the door. Additional damage was visible near the base of the truck’s bed.
The rear passenger-side window also appeared to have been shattered, with little or no glass remaining in the frame.
Investigation Continues After Deadly Attack
Authorities continue to investigate the shooting, which killed four people and left others injured at Silver Rail Elementary.
The incident has prompted accounts from survivors, parents and witnesses describing the violence inside and around the school.
Giamanco’s actions, the identities of the victims and the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s access to the building remain central to the developing account of the attack.
