BEND, Ore. — A man armed with a concealed permit weapon intervened to stop a teenage gunman who had opened fire at Silver Rail Elementary School, killing three children and a teacher, authorities and witnesses said Friday.

The shooting occurred Thursday when 16-year-old John J. Griffin II forced his way through locked doors and began firing at students inside the Bend school. The attacker fatally wounded children aged five, eight, and eleven, as well as an adult teacher, before being stopped by 36-year-old Kaylub Giamanco, whose brother identified him as the individual who confronted the shooter.

According to Kyle Giamanco, Kaylub’s brother, the father of two children attending the school was driving home for lunch when he heard gunfire and saw Griffin enter the special education room. Kaylub Giamanco, who holds a concealed carry permit, responded by shooting the assailant, ending the attack. He later expressed feelings of guilt and difficulty processing the event.

President Donald Trump publicly commended Giamanco’s actions, calling him a “great hero” and emphasizing the significance of having an armed individual capable of responding to such violence. “As bad as it was, we had a great hero that went in and did the business,” Trump said.

The community of Bend, known for its scenic surroundings including hiking trails and ski slopes, grappled with the shock and grief following the shooting. Residents described a somber atmosphere, with many expressing disbelief that such violence could occur in their small city. Kristen Vanetsky, a grandmother of a student at the school, described the emptiness felt in the aftermath, remarking on the absence of children and ordinary activity.

The incident has reignited the national debate on gun control and the role of firearms in public safety. The National Rifle Association praised the actions of the armed bystander, highlighting the episode as evidence supporting an armed citizenry prepared to intervene in dangerous situations. In contrast, gun control advocates pointed to the ongoing high incidence of mass shootings in U.S. schools as underscoring the risks associated with widespread firearm availability.

This year alone, the United States has recorded over 360 mass shooting incidents, according to the Gun Violence Archive, defining such events as shootings in which at least four people are shot, excluding the perpetrator. The Silver Rail Elementary attack marks the latest episode in the country’s persistent struggle to address gun violence, particularly in educational institutions.