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Trump Praises Hero Dad Who Stopped Oregon School Shooter

Stateline MEDIA Newsroom•October 17, 2026•3 min read

Kaylub Giamanco (36), father of two Silver Rail students, has been identified as the man who stopped the mass shooting in Bend, Oregon. Teen gunman Griffin J. John II (16) killed 3 students and 1 teacher before being shot dead. President Trump praised Giamanco as a hero.

Key Facts

The man who stopped the mass shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, has been identified as Kaylub Giamanco (36), a local carpenter and father of two students at the school, on Friday (10/16/2026).
Giamanco was driving home for lunch when he heard gunfire and saw a shotgun-wielding teen enter the school. With his legally owned pistol, he chased the attacker into a special-education classroom and shot him dead.
The shooter was Griffin J. John II (16), a former Silver Rail student. He blasted through a glass door with a 12-gauge Maverick 88 pump-action shotgun loaded with three types of ammunition, firing about 15 shots inside the classroom.
Four people were killed: three students aged 5, 8, and 11, and teacher Megan Lambert (25). Two others were wounded: a 7-year-old boy in serious but stable condition and a 54-year-old teacher.
Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz revealed a female teacher also acted heroically, throwing her cellphone at the gunman and wrestling for his weapon before Giamanco arrived.
President Donald Trump praised Giamanco on Friday (10/16), calling him a 'great hero' and saying 'thank God we had him, otherwise it would have been much worse'.
Giamanco's family said he is not seeking recognition and remains traumatized and guilt-ridden for not saving more children; both his daughters survived unharmed.

Hero Identified

A father who stopped a mass shooting at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon, United States, has been identified as Kaylub Giamanco (36). He is a local carpenter and the father of two girls who attend Silver Rail Elementary, where the tragedy unfolded on Thursday afternoon local time.

According to NBC News and CBS News, Giamanco — a licensed concealed-carry holder — was driving home for lunch when he heard gunfire. He saw an armed teenager entering the school grounds, stopped his truck, grabbed his .40-caliber pistol, and chased the gunman inside the building.

His swift action ended the shooting within minutes of the first 911 call, preventing far more casualties. Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz praised his courage at an emotional press conference on Friday (10/16/2026).

Chronology of the Deadly Attack

The shooter was Griffin J. John II (16), a former Silver Rail student. He blasted through the glass panes of a door with a 12-gauge Maverick 88 pump-action shotgun loaded with three types of ammunition, entered a special-education classroom, and fired about 15 shots.

Four people were killed: three students aged 5, 8, and 11 — including 5-year-old Rhoam Summer — and 25-year-old teacher Megan Lambert. Two others were wounded: a 7-year-old boy in serious but stable condition, and a 54-year-old teacher with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Police also revealed another act of heroism: a female teacher hurled her cellphone at the gunman and wrestled for his weapon before Giamanco arrived in the classroom. 'She almost certainly helped prevent more bloodshed,' Krantz said.

Trump: 'Great Hero'

President Donald Trump personally praised Giamanco on Friday (10/16) speaking to reporters outside the White House. 'He took care of business, and thank God we had him, otherwise it would have been much worse,' Trump said, calling him a 'great hero'.

Trump also noted Giamanco's legal gun ownership. 'It's a terrible thing, but thank goodness for a man that had a gun and knew how to use it,' he said. Praise also poured in from victims' families and the grieving Bend community.

He Doesn't Feel Like a Hero

Despite the praise, Giamanco does not want the spotlight. His brother, Kyle Giamanco, said he is traumatized and guilt-ridden for feeling he could not save more children. 'He can't get the sight of terrified children out of his head,' he told NBC News.

In a statement shared by the family with CBS, Giamanco said he is not seeking recognition. Instead, he expressed gratitude to first responders, school staff, and the community for their support. His mother, Kenda Freeman, said her son remains traumatized. 'He's absolutely a hero. I'm very proud,' she said with a trembling voice.