Washington: US President Donald Trump has praised a bystander who intervened during a deadly shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, calling him a “great hero” and saying his actions may have prevented further loss of life.
Speaking to reporters on Friday ahead of a rally in Georgia, Trump thanked the man for confronting the gunman and bringing the attack to an end.
“There was a great hero, and it could have been as bad as it was; we had a great hero that went in and did the business,” Trump said, adding that the situation could have been much worse without the intervention.
According to CBS News, the bystander was identified as Kaylub Giamanco, a 36-year-old lifelong resident of Bend whose two daughters attend the school. Police said he pursued and fatally shot the 16-year-old suspect, ending the attack.
The shooting killed three children and a teacher, while two other people, including a student and a teacher, were critically injured.
Teacher Also Helped Confront the Gunman
Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz also praised a teacher who confronted the shooter inside a classroom. According to the police chief, she threw her cellphone at the suspect before tackling him and attempting to take away his firearm.
The teacher was not injured during the confrontation. Krantz said her actions almost certainly helped prevent further bloodshed.
The police chief highlighted the teacher’s intervention alongside the actions of Giamanco, recognising the efforts of both individuals in responding to the attack.
Family Requests Privacy After Bystander’s Intervention
In a statement released on Friday, Giamanco’s family said he was not seeking recognition for his actions. The family also expressed gratitude to first responders, school staff and members of the community for their support.
They requested privacy and said they would not be giving interviews.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek also praised Giamanco, saying he had “heroically intervened to stop further loss of life”. She acknowledged that intervening in such circumstances could carry a significant emotional burden.
Police Identify Suspect and Describe School Attack
According to CBS News, police identified the suspect as Griffin J John II, a 16-year-old from Bend who had previously attended the school.
Investigators said the teenager entered the school after shooting through the glass in locked doors. Giamanco then pursued him and fatally shot him, according to police accounts reported by CBS News.
When officers arrived minutes later, they found the suspect dead and four victims inside the school. The victims who died were three children aged five, eight and 11, and a 25-year-old teacher.
Two additional victims, a student and a teacher, were taken to hospital with critical injuries.
Law enforcement sources told CBS News that the suspect had used a shotgun purchased by his mother. Police said the teenager was from Bend and had previously attended Silver Rail Elementary School.
The investigation into the shooting continues, as the community deals with the loss of the victims and the impact of the attack.
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