An armed civilian’s intervention in the recent shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, stands out as an uncommon instance in which a mass shooting was halted by a civilian rather than law enforcement. The attack, which claimed the lives of three students and a teacher, was interrupted when Kaylub Giamanco, a father of two attending the school, fired his legally owned handgun at the teenage gunman after witnessing the assailant struggle with a teacher.
Giamanco, a 36-year-old carpenter, had a .40-caliber pistol stored in his vehicle and responded to the crisis by entering the school and engaging the shooter, according to Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz. The intervention sparked praise from President Donald Trump, who commended Giamanco’s actions as a fortunate example of an armed civilian stepping in to stop such violence.
Despite such cases receiving significant attention, data from the Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center at Texas State University indicates that armed civilian interventions are relatively rare. The center analyzed 634 “active attack” incidents—including those involving firearms, knives, or vehicles—from 2000 through 2025. Of these, 374 attacks ended before police arrived, but only 29 concluded due to an armed civilian shooting the attacker. Another 31 incidents ended when civilians subdued the assailant through nonfirearm means such as wrestling, highlighting the occasional role civilians play during these crises.
James Keith, a spokesperson for the ALERRT Center, noted that armed civilians sometimes recognize their potential to stop attacks before law enforcement arrives, though these instances remain a minority.
The concept of “good guys with guns” acting as an immediate line of defense has been a longstanding argument among gun rights advocates, who emphasize that armed citizens can provide protection in the crucial moments before first responders reach the scene. Some individuals who take action possess law enforcement or military training, while others act spontaneously in chaotic situations.
States have responded in various ways to encourage or permit armed interventions in public spaces. For instance, Texas launched a school marshal program in 2013, enabling trained teachers and staff to carry concealed firearms on campuses. Following significant mass shootings—such as those near Houston in 2018 and at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde in 2022—the state expanded armed security measures in schools. Texas currently has some of the least restrictive gun laws nationwide, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. By contrast, Oregon is rated among the states with the strictest gun control regulations.
Several recent high-profile cases illustrate armed civilians intervening in shootings. In Twin Falls, Idaho, on August 3, a gunman opened fire at an In-N-Out Burger restaurant, killing three and injuring seven. Authorities credit an off-duty officer and an armed civilian customer, Jordan Salinas, with exchanging gunfire that caused the assailant to retreat and ultimately take his own life.
Similarly, at a Texas church in White Settlement in 2019, Jack Wilson, a firearms instructor and reserve sheriff’s deputy, shot and killed a gunman who had killed two worshippers during a service. Wilson described taking a single, calculated shot to neutralize the threat while minimizing harm to bystanders.
Another example occurred in 2017 in Sutherland Springs, Texas, when Stephen Willeford, a former NRA instructor, responded barefoot with a rifle to confront a gunman who had killed 26 people. Willeford wounded the attacker, who fled the scene before later dying. Willeford then coordinated a pursuit with a passing motorist.
Though such interventions occasionally help end active shooting situations before police arrive, experts note they are uncommon and often hinge on rapid civilian response, training, and circumstances on the ground.