Oregon school shooter identified as 16-year-old former student; shotgun purchased by his mother, sources say

Bend police on Friday identified the gunman who killed three children and a 25-year-old teacher at Silver Rail Elementary School as Griffin J. John II, a 16-year-old former student of the school. Law enforcement sources told CBS News the shotgun used in the attack was purchased by his mother.

Police Chief Mike Krantz said a Maverick 88 pump-action 12-gauge shotgun was found near the suspect, along with a backpack. The suspect fired as many as 15 rounds, and 44 remaining rounds were located at the scene. Three types of ammunition — birdshot, buckshot and slugs — were used in the shooting, Krantz said.

The dead children were ages 5, 8 and 11. The 5-year-old was identified by police and his family as Rhoam Summer. The teacher killed was Meghan Lambert. The families of the two other children have not made their names public, police said.

Krantz said the suspect approached the school’s fence on foot, threw the shotgun over it, and climbed over. A man passing in a pickup truck confronted him, and the suspect fired at the truck, striking it at least three times. That driver drove on and made the initial 911 call.

A 36-year-old man whose children attend the school witnessed that shooting and drove into the school parking lot. Krantz identified the bystander, named by his family as Kaylub Giamanco, as the person who later shot the suspect. Giamanco retrieved a .40-caliber pistol he legally owned and entered the school.

The suspect forced his way through a set of double doors by firing into the glass panes and went directly into the classroom immediately to the left, where he opened fire. “All of the victims were shot in that classroom,” Krantz said.

Inside, Giamanco heard shooting and saw a teacher in a physical struggle with the suspect. Krantz said the teacher threw her cellphone at the suspect, tackled him, and fought for the firearm. Giamanco fired, striking the suspect multiple times. Krantz praised the teacher’s actions as heroic and said they “almost certainly helped prevent more bloodshed.”

A 7-year-old girl was in serious but stable condition at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, and 54-year-old teacher Becky Drury suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries at St. Charles Medical Center, Krantz said.

Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook said the classroom was a special needs classroom and that the suspect had been a special needs student at the school. In 2020, the suspect’s mother, Shauntai Nickerson, told a local television station that her then-10-year-old son had special needs and struggled to learn from home during the pandemic.

No motive has been provided. Law enforcement sources told CBS News investigators are examining the suspect’s computer, phone, social media, search history and other online activity, including whether he may have been obsessed with violence or prior mass shootings. The sources said the inquiry is in its preliminary stages.

The family of Giamanco said in a statement that 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.”

Police said they responded within minutes to the 911 calls and found the deceased shooter and other victims inside the school.

Reporting by CBS News. Read the original report: Oregon school shooter identified as 16-year-old former student; shotgun purchased by his mother.