3 Students, 1 Teacher Killed in Shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon

Updated Oct. 19, 2026, with new details about the suspect, victims, shooting timeline, school security measures, investigation, and district reopening plans.

Three students and a teacher were killed on Oct. 15 in a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon.

According to police, the 16-year-old gunman, a Bend resident and former Silver Rail student, climbed a perimeter fence and forced his way into the school by shooting through locked exterior doors. He then entered a special education classroom near the entrance, where he opened fire.

The victims included five-year-old Rhoam Summer, two boys ages eight and 11 whose families requested their names not be released, and 25-year-old teacher Megan Lambert. Seven-year-old student Saylor Graham and 54-year-old educational assistant Becky Drury were also seriously injured.

How the Silver Rail Elementary School Shooting Unfolded

During a Friday news conference, Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz provided a detailed account of the shooting and the events leading up to it.

At approximately 12:58 p.m. Thursday, the suspect approached Silver Rail Elementary School from an undeveloped area near the campus. Police said he threw a shotgun over a perimeter fence before climbing over it himself.

A motorist driving a red pickup truck saw the suspect and confronted him. The suspect fired at the vehicle, striking it at least three times, before the driver continued down the street and called 911. The first emergency call was received at approximately 12:59 p.m.

Police said the suspect then approached the school building and fired multiple rounds into the glass panes of locked exterior doors to gain entry. He proceeded directly into a special education classroom immediately inside the entrance and opened fire.

According to Krantz, the suspect fired as many as 15 rounds during the attack. All six victims were shot inside the classroom.

A teacher who was inside the classroom threw her cellphone at the suspect and tackled him, attempting to gain control of the shotgun. Police said the teacher was not injured during the struggle and credited her actions with helping prevent additional casualties.

A second motorist, who had witnessed the confrontation outside, also intervened. The man, identified as 36-year-old Kaylub Giamanco, is the father of two students at Silver Rail.

Giamanco parked his vehicle, retrieved a legally secured handgun, and approached the building. Police said he heard gunfire and saw the teacher physically struggling with the suspect before entering the classroom and shooting the gunman multiple times, killing him.

Law enforcement directed the school to go into lockdown at approximately 1:01 p.m. Responding officers arrived at 1:02 p.m., three minutes after the initial 911 call.

Officers entered the building, confirmed the suspect was dead, and began securing the scene, searching classrooms, and providing medical assistance.

In a statement released Friday, Giamanco's family said he was not seeking recognition and requested privacy.

Civilian Intervention Draws Attention

The teacher's and parent's actions have also prompted discussion about the role of civilian intervention during school shootings.

James Densley, co-founder of the Violence Prevention Project, told NPR that armed civilian intervention in school shootings is exceptionally rare. His organization's research into approximately 400 homicides at K-12 schools since 2000 identified no previous cases in which a civilian shot an attacker to stop the incident.

James Keith, with the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center at Texas State University, cautioned against treating such interventions as a recommended civilian response. He said people should first attempt to escape, seek protection if escape is not possible, and defend themselves as a last resort.

Staff Response, Lockdown, and Reunification

During the shooting, fifth-grade teacher Kathy Sheil Smith told CNN affiliate KPTV that she saw the armed individual approaching the school through her classroom window. She said she immediately contacted the main office to warn staff before moving her students into a corner of the classroom.

Some students communicated with their parents using Apple Watches during the lockdown, according to local reporting cited by BBC Radio 4. NBC News also reported that at least one parent received an automated phone call and text message notifying her of the lockdown. The parent said she later waited several hours at the reunification center before being reunited with her son.

Students were transported by bus to Journey Church, which served as a family reunification center.

Cook said the district intends to review its emergency response procedures, school safety plans, and other factors related to the shooting as additional information becomes available.

Victims of the Silver Rail Elementary Shooting

Megan Lambert, the 25-year-old special education teacher killed in the shooting, was a Central Oregon native and 2023 graduate of Boise State University. She had previously worked as a substitute teacher at Silver Rail before becoming a full-time educator.

Five-year-old Rhoam Summer was also among those killed. His aunt, Swan Sheridan, described him as a happy, energetic child who was an exceptionally fast runner and loved to climb.

The families of the other two children, boys ages eight and 11, have requested that their names not be released.

Seven-year-old Saylor Graham was transported to Oregon Health & Science University in Portland and was reported to be in serious but stable condition Friday.

Becky Drury, the 54-year-old educational assistant who sustained injuries to her arm and hand, was recovering at a Bend hospital.

Silver Rail Suspect's Background and Ongoing Investigation

Police said the 16-year-old suspect previously attended Silver Rail Elementary but was not enrolled in Bend-La Pine Schools at the time of the shooting.

Authorities confirmed the suspect had previously received special education services at Silver Rail, although they have not established whether he attended the classroom where the shooting occurred.

Investigators are continuing to examine his background, possible motive, and access to the firearm and ammunition.

Police identified the weapon as a Maverick 88 pump-action 12-gauge shotgun. According to Krantz, the suspect had approximately 44 rounds of ammunition remaining when the shooting ended.

Multiple news organizations, citing law enforcement sources, have reported that the shotgun was purchased by the suspect's mother. Bend Police confirmed Sunday that how he obtained the firearm and ammunition remains part of an active criminal investigation. No arrests had been announced as of Sunday.

Investigators have searched the suspect's home, collected evidence, and conducted interviews. The FBI, Oregon State Police, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and other agencies are assisting in the investigation.

Bend-La Pine Schools Security Measures

According to information published on the Bend-La Pine Schools website, the district has several school security measures in place, including secure entrance vestibules, visitor management systems, security cameras, and classroom door locking systems.

Visitors are required to check in before being electronically granted access beyond the entrance vestibule. The district also approved classroom door lock upgrades in 2022. Superintendent Steven Cook said Friday that classroom locks throughout the district have been replaced with systems that allow occupants to secure doors without stepping into hallways.

Cook also said Silver Rail Elementary had conducted a lockdown drill approximately two weeks before the shooting. District schools practice two lockdown drills annually, he said.

Bend-La Pine Schools uses the Standard Response Protocol, developed by the I Love U Guys Foundation. The framework includes five emergency actions: Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter. The district also uses the Standard Reunification Method to account for students and coordinate reunification with their families following an emergency.

Although Bend-La Pine Schools participates in a school resource officer program, no officer was stationed at Silver Rail when the shooting occurred. According to Bend Police, the assigned officer covers approximately six or seven schools and was at another campus at the time.

Bend police officers also participated in active threat training at a local high school in August. Krantz said officers train for these situations regularly.

District Reopening and Recovery Efforts

Bend-La Pine Schools canceled classes, athletic events, and extracurricular activities across the district following the shooting.

District schools are closed Monday, Oct. 19, and will remain closed Tuesday, Oct. 20. Students at schools other than Silver Rail Elementary are scheduled to return Wednesday, Oct. 21, on an early-release schedule, with full-day classes resuming Thursday.

Silver Rail Elementary will remain closed until further notice. The district said it is communicating directly with Silver Rail families and staff about plans for the school.

Counseling and other support services will be available to students, families, and employees. Cook said hundreds of community members have already sought crisis counseling following the shooting. The district also plans to increase law enforcement presence as students return.

Additional resources and district updates are available through the Bend-La Pine Schools safety website.

This is a developing story. School Security Leadership will provide updates as additional information becomes available.