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A licensed concealed carrier and father of two students is being credited with stopping a deadly attack at an Oregon elementary school.
According to Bend Police, a 16-year-old gunman entered Silver Rail Elementary School on Thursday and killed three children and a teacher. The victims were ages 5, 8 and 11, along with an adult educator.
A 7-year-old student and a 54-year-old teacher were also critically injured.
The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms is now praising the armed citizen who pursued the attacker into the school and fatally shot him.
“Once again, an armed citizen with a concealed carry license has intervened in a tragic incident,” CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb said.
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Armed Father Ran Toward the Danger
Police initially described the person who stopped the attack only as a “community member.”
His family identified him Friday as Kaylub Giamanco, a lifelong Bend resident and father of two girls who attend Silver Rail Elementary, according to the Associated Press.
Giamanco’s brother told NBC News that he holds a concealed-weapon permit and decided to enter the school after seeing the attacker go inside.
Giamanco’s mother, Kenda Freeman, said her son does not want recognition. The family asked for privacy as he processes the attack and its aftermath.
The shooting began shortly before 1 p.m. on October 15.
Bend Police received the first call at 12:59 p.m. from someone in a vehicle reporting that a person with a long gun had fired at them. Dispatchers then received multiple calls saying the attacker had entered the school and begun shooting.
Police said the gunman forced his way through locked doors by shooting them.
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The school entered lockdown at 1:01 p.m. Officers arrived one minute later. Moments afterward, police learned that an armed community member had followed the attacker inside and engaged him.
“Our officers entered the building and confirmed the suspect was dead,” Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said during the city’s Thursday evening press conference.
The entire attack unfolded within a matter of minutes, according to reporting from Oregon Public Broadcasting.
CCRKBA Says His Actions Saved Lives
Gottlieb said there is no overlooking the horrific loss of three children and a teacher. However, he argued that the armed father’s intervention prevented the attacker from taking even more lives.
“We are heartbroken that three children and a teacher died in this horrendous event,” Gottlieb said, “but we are gratified that a local resident had the tool, and the courage, to take quick action.”
CCRKBA also praised the rapid response from Bend Police and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.
Krantz said the first officers reached the school approximately three minutes after the initial emergency call. Bend officers had also completed a full day of active-shooter training in August, according to Reuters.
Even with that response, the armed parent was already confronting the killer as officers entered the scene.
“When the need arose, an armed citizen was fortunately there to immediately respond,” Gottlieb said.
Oregon Governor Praises the Intervention
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek also publicly thanked Giamanco during the initial press conference.
“To the community member who heroically intervened to stop further loss of life, your actions carry a heavy emotional burden, and my thoughts are with you,” Kotek said in an official statement.
The governor also praised the school’s staff, parents and first responders.
Police have not publicly announced a motive or confirmed whether the teenage attacker had any connection to Silver Rail Elementary. The investigation remains active, with federal and state agencies assisting Bend Police.
For CCRKBA, the case provides another example of how quickly an armed citizen can become the immediate responder during a life-threatening emergency.
There is no happy ending to an attack that took four innocent lives. However, police, state officials and 2A advocates agree that Giamanco’s decision to run toward the gunfire prevented an already devastating day from becoming even worse.
Self-defense doesn’t end when the threat goes down. That’s when the real battle begins. Lawyers. Prosecutors. Headlines. USCCA Members never fight that battle alone. Find out how.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
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thank goodness for the good guy with a gun and the courage and knowledge to take care of the situation. i am a retired leo that worked in rural areas, and have had good guys and gals stop to assist or see if i needed assistance, on the road side mostly with traffic stops and suspicious persons, i am thankful for those who stopped and offered assistance, in addition this citizen that stopped the school shooter is a hero, as sad as the story is i am sure there would have been a larger body count had he not stopped it when he did, its good to know about the good guys and gals that carry weapons for the protection of them selves and others. always remember the 2nd amendment was our nations original home land security.
I’m pretty sure that here, in the Peoples Democrat Republic of Illinois, that firearms are not permitted within 1,000 feet of a school. That good Samaritan would probably be charged with a crime here. Gun Free Zones are KILLING ZONES!!! Stay safe. j
Would think OR (as WA and CA) would be similar to IL…at least with CCW permits. Like to know how the father was able to procure his…if in one of the special employment exemptions or other similar qualifying, etc. Good for him…indeed a hero in every sense of the word.
Oregon isn’t Illinois on this one. It’s been shall-issue for a long time. The county sheriff issues the license, and you don’t need a special job to get one. According to his brother, he had a regular concealed carry permit. Nothing in the reporting so far points to an exemption. Just a dad who was carrying.
Great news…but a disturbing side-question. The “good-guy” entered the school and dispatched the “bad guy”. Police arrived ( it seems) about 1 minute later. WHAT IF…..they entered and SAW the good guy….in street clothes with a gun in his hand….and engaged HIM by mistake? As a “lessons-learned” aspect…..how do we deal with this in the future for anyone willing to do the same ?
Responding officers get a call about a man with a gun. They don’t know which one you are. Once the threat is down, the gun goes back in the holster or on the floor. Hands empty and visible. If anyone can get 911 on the phone, tell them what you’re wearing. When officers come through the door, do exactly what they say, even if that means eating carpet. Alive and in cuffs for ten minutes beats getting shot by a cop doing his job.
All well-and-good….. but sometimes the threat isn’t fully over and done when the police arrive…. and the good-guy is still engaged ( or only shortly thereafter) who can easily be mistaken as the bad guy. Not a nay-sayer or anti gunner….but just trying to wrap my head around what would I do in such a situation where I could be mistaken for a bad guy . Don’t forget….when the police arrive you might not be “done” with the bad guy. Difficult and dangerous position to be in…..
That’s the worst seat in the house, and there’s no clean answer. If the fight’s still on, fight from cover and stay put. Don’t go hunting. The second you hear sirens or boots, start yelling. Who you are, that you’re armed, where the shooter is. Get anyone you can on 911 with your description so it goes out over the radio. When a uniform comes around the corner, your gun goes down, even if you think the bad guy’s still moving. Point with your free hand, not your muzzle. The cops can finish it. You can’t win a gunfight with them.
What if the bad guy has a Cardassian disruptor that has been modified to emit a Nadian pulse? The Wil needs to play out that scenario.
surrender peacefully, say “i can’t breathe”, and get a good lawyer…….as long as we are throwing out what if’s.
While the hypothetical situation you are “what-iffing” is indeed a possibility, law enforcement officials are highly trained professionals who operate within specific guidelines, especially when discharging their duty-weapon, and do not simply wildly open fire instantly upon seeing someone with a firearm in their hand. They issue commands to the person and if the person makes any threatening movements or gestures, then they would be permitted to neutralize the situation.
I say good job!!!
shame the gun haters will come out of the woodwork with what ifs and no gun zones because they would rather see a bigger body count to push their agenda………and if he used a glock he will be extra screwed.