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A shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, left three children and a teacher dead on Thursday, with a 5-year-old boy among those killed inside a special needs classroom. An armed bystander ended the attack by fatally shooting the teenage gunman. The tragedy has devastated families, staff and the wider community.
Victims Identified as Families Speak Out
A family member identified one of the slain children as Rhoam Summer, a 5-year-old boy described as having long, curly hair. His mother, Kelik Summer, shared a heartfelt message on Facebook the night of the shooting. “Thursday was the worst day of my life,” she wrote. “My son Rhoam was killed in a school shooting. We are broken and lost, but are surrounded by friends and family who are keeping us safe.”
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Officials did not publicly name the other two children killed, ages 8 and 11, at the request of their families. A 7-year-old boy also suffered injuries during the attack. He was shot in the face and is in a wheelchair. He underwent surgery and stabilized in serious condition at a local hospital.
The family of the slain teacher identified her as Megan Lambert, 25, a central Oregon native and Boise State University graduate. Lambert had previously worked as a substitute teacher before securing her full-time position at Silver Rail. “She loved Silver Rail,” her family said in a statement read at a Friday afternoon news conference. “This was her dream job.” Lambert also coached girls in the Central Oregon Volleyball Club. During her first year as a coach, she refused a salary so that girls from lower-income families could still participate. “She always fought for the underdog and those with special needs,” her family said.
Police Detail How the Attack Unfolded
Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said the attack began just before 1 p.m. Thursday. The shooter climbed a perimeter fence, fired at and broke through a set of double doors, then entered Lambert’s special needs classroom and opened fire. When officers arrived, two boys and a teacher were already dead. Medics attempted lifesaving care on another child at the scene.
During the attack, a teacher who has not been named threw a cellphone at the shooter and tackled him. Krantz credited her actions directly. “She almost certainly helped prevent more bloodshed,” he said. That teacher escaped without injury. Meanwhile, an armed bystander entered a classroom where the gunman and a teacher were physically struggling. The bystander shot and killed the attacker, ending the rampage.
Armed Bystander Identified as Father of Two
Kyle Giamanco identified the bystander who stopped the gunman as his brother, Kaylub Giamanco, 36. Kaylub is a father of two children who attend Silver Rail Elementary. Kyle told NBC News that his brother is a hero, but doesn’t feel like one. Kaylub cannot stop thinking about the children and feels guilty that he could not save more people, his brother said.
Kyle also noted that his family knows the 7-year-old boy currently recovering in hospital. The child is a friend of the family, adding a deeply personal dimension to an already painful experience.
School Officials and City Leaders Respond
Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook confirmed at the news conference that the shooter had previously been a special needs student at Silver Rail. Investigators are still working to establish a motive.
Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler addressed the community shortly after the shooting. “A school should be a safe place where children can learn and feel secure,” she said. “What happened today should never happen.”
Another teacher injured in the attack, Becky Drury, 54, suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries, police said. Her husband released a statement thanking the public for their support. “The kindness and concern shown to our family and everyone affected mean more than we can express,” he wrote. He also asked for privacy as the family focuses on Drury’s recovery. “Right now, our focus is on my wife, Becky, and her recovery, and on supporting our family through an unimaginably difficult time,” he added.
