Kaylub Giamanco, a 36-year-old carpenter and father of two from Bend, Oregon, has spoken publicly for the first time about his role in stopping a school shooting at Silver Rail Elementary on October 15. Giamanco encountered an armed teenager carrying a 12-gauge shotgun who opened fire at the school, killing three children and a teacher and injuring others before Giamanco intervened.
On the day of the attack, Giamanco had dropped his daughters at school and was on his way back to a job site when he saw a figure dressed in black firing shots near the school. Observing the gunman discard his weapon and climb a fence, Giamanco retrieved his legally owned .40-caliber handgun from his vehicle and rushed to the school. He reported hearing children pleading for their lives and gunfire as he approached.
Giamanco entered the building through a broken window and crawled toward a special-education classroom, where he found a teacher struggling with the shooter. After opening the door, he fired his weapon, initially incapacitating both. When the shooter attempted to retrieve his gun again, Giamanco fired two additional shots, killing him. Police arrived shortly afterward.
Since the incident, Giamanco has expressed mixed emotions. Although initially hailed as a hero credited with preventing further loss of life among the school's approximately 400 students, he has conveyed deep sorrow for those he was unable to save. “I want to apologize for not saving their babies,” he said in an interview. “The gratitude for saving people’s children is awesome, but there were ones that I didn’t save.” He recounted reliving the event repeatedly and struggling with the trauma, describing sleepless nights filled with the sounds and images of that afternoon.
Giamanco also spoke about the teacher who confronted the gunman, calling her “a real true hero,” though he said he has not yet met her. He indicated that his family has temporarily moved away from the area and that his daughters will not be returning to Silver Rail Elementary in the near future. Giamanco himself said he has not returned to work since the shooting and is uncertain about resuming his carpentry career, reflecting that the experience has given him a new sense of purpose beyond his previous occupation.
Law enforcement and public officials, including then-President Donald Trump, praised Giamanco’s actions for saving many lives during the attack. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances around the shooting and provide support to victims’ families and the community.