Three students killed in Oregon school shooting stopped by father

Kaylub Giamanco fatally shot a 16-year-old gunman at Silver Rail Elementary School in Oregon earlier this month. The attack left three students and one teacher dead. Giamanco, 36, said he feels deep pain over the children he could not reach.

In an interview with Oregon Public Broadcasting aired on Friday, Giamanco addressed the families of the victims. He said he wanted to apologize for not saving their children. He acknowledged that while gratitude exists for the survivors, he is focused on the boys who were lost.

The three students killed were boys aged five, eight, and 11. A teacher was also killed. Six people were shot in total within the classroom. Two others, a child and a teacher, were wounded. Police identified the shooter as Griffin J John II, a former student who had attended special education classes at the school.

Giamanco was a carpenter working that morning. He and his wife had spent extra time preparing their daughters for school picture day. He decided to return home for lunch instead of eating at his workplace. This route took him past the school as the attack began.

He initially thought the person with a long gun was playing a prank. He changed his mind when he saw the attacker fire at a pickup truck. Giamanco retrieved a handgun from his vehicle and called emergency services. He told the dispatcher he was sorry but had to enter the school because people were dying.

Giamanco followed the attacker, who shot through the school's locked glass doors. He crawled toward the building after hearing children plead for their lives. He told himself it was probably the last thing he would ever do. He crawled through a shattered window and entered the classroom.

Inside, a teacher was struggling with the gunman. Giamanco opened the door and fired. He shot again when the attacker reached for his weapon. He placed his gun on the ground and raised his hands when an officer arrived. He described feeling like the last line of defense for the children.

Police said the teacher who confronted the shooter threw her phone at him and tackled him. Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said she almost certainly helped prevent more bloodshed. Giamanco credited her actions with giving him the chance to intervene without losing his own life.

The youngest victim was Rhoam Summer, age five. His father said the family is broken and lost. The teacher killed was Megan Lambert, 25. Her family described her job as her dream. They said she always fought for students with special needs.

The other two boys have not been publicly named. The wounded teacher is Becky Drury, 54. She said the gunman shot her as she tried to close her classroom door. Giamanco's mother, Kenda Freeman, read a statement asking for privacy. She said her son was not seeking recognition.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek praised Giamanco shortly after the attack. She said his actions carry a heavy emotional burden. Giamanco said he now lies awake at night replaying the attack. He said he sees faces, hears voices, and hears screams.