The 16-year-old gunman who killed three children and a teacher at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, has been officially identified as John J. Griffin II, while the armed bystander credited with stopping him has been named as Kaylub Giamanco, 36, a local carpenter and father of two students at the school. Griffin’s mother, Shauntai May Nickerson, broke down in tears outside her apartment Friday, insisting her son was “a good boy” a day after the attack, while President Trump publicly praised Giamanco as a “great hero.”
A day after the deadliest school shooting in Oregon in years, the two men at the center of the tragedy now have names — the teenager responsible for the attack, and the man whose split-second decision is credited with bringing it to an end.
The Shooter: John J. Griffin II
Police identified the gunman as 16-year-old John J. Griffin II, a Bend resident who, according to his mother’s own past comments, had special needs and had once attended Silver Rail Elementary School himself. Investigators have searched his home and seized his electronic devices as they work to establish a motive, which has not been publicly determined.
Griffin was armed with a pump-action shotgun that Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said was purchased by his mother. According to Bend Police, Griffin forced his way into the school around 1 p.m. Thursday by shooting through its locked doors after a caller had already reported him firing at a vehicle nearby. Inside, he killed three children — ages 5, 8 and 11 — and a teacher, and critically wounded a 7-year-old student and another teacher, before being shot and killed by the bystander who pursued him into the building.
Griffin’s Mother Speaks: “He Was a Good Boy”
Shauntai May Nickerson, Griffin’s mother, was approached by reporters outside her apartment complex on Friday. Visibly shaken, she told outlets including CNN and The New York Times that her son was “a good boy, he really was,” adding, “I miss him.” She extended condolences to the families of those killed, saying, “I’m so sorry, I wish I could have done something. I’m sorry for their loss,” and added, “If I could have prevented this, I would have.” Nickerson said there had been no warning signs beforehand but declined to discuss how her son gained access to the shotgun.
The Hero: Kaylub Giamanco
The man who ended the attack has been identified as Kaylub Giamanco, a 36-year-old carpenter and lifelong Bend resident whose two daughters attend Silver Rail Elementary. His brother, Kyle Giamanco, told NBC News that Kaylub was driving home for his lunch break when he heard gunshots near the school. Realizing what was happening, he went inside, found Griffin, and shot him, ending the rampage before officers could reach the scene.
According to his brother, Kaylub holds a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Kyle said his brother is “struggling to process what happened” and feels guilt that he could not save more lives. Their mother, Kenda Freeman, said in a statement that Kaylub 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 family has asked for privacy and said Giamanco does not plan to give interviews.
National Reaction
President Donald Trump praised Giamanco’s actions during remarks to reporters. “As bad as it was, we had a great hero that went in and took care of business,” Trump said. “It’s a terrible thing, but thank God we had him — otherwise, it would have been much worse.”
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, who had praised the then-unnamed bystander immediately after the shooting, reiterated her gratitude once his identity became public. “To the community member who heroically intervened to stop further loss of life, your actions carry a heavy emotional burden, and I just want you to know that my thoughts are with you,” Kotek said.
Where Things Stand
Bend-La Pine Schools remain closed through the end of the week, with crisis counseling available to students, staff and families. The identities of the three children and the teacher who died have still not been officially released by authorities. The investigation into Griffin’s motive, and the full details of how he obtained the shotgun, remains ongoing.
