BEND, Ore. — A father of two who entered Silver Rail Elementary School and fired on a teenage gunman is being credited with stopping an attack that killed three students and a teacher, Bend police said Friday.
What happened at Silver Rail Elementary
Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said the man, identified by relatives as Kaylub Giamanco, a 36-year-old carpenter, had a .40-caliber pistol legally stored in his vehicle and entered the school after hearing gunfire. Krantz said Giamanco fired his weapon after seeing a teacher struggling with the shooter.
"It's a terrible thing, but thank goodness for a man that had a gun and knew how to use it," President Donald Trump said Friday at the White House.
Authorities described the attacker as a teenager. Officials continue to investigate the sequence of events inside the school and how the shooter gained access to the classroom where the violence occurred.
How common are civilian interventions?
Research shows incidents in which armed civilians end active attacks are uncommon. The Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center at Texas State University reviewed 634 "active attack" incidents from 2000 through 2025. The center found that:
- 374 attacks ended before police arrived;
- 29 ended when armed civilians shot the attacker;
- 31 ended when civilians subdued the attacker by other means, such as wrestling them to the ground.
| Metric | Number |
|---|---|
| Active attack incidents studied (2000–2025) | 634 |
| Attacks ending before police arrival | 374 |
| Attacks ended by armed civilians shooting attacker | 29 |
| Attacks ended by other civilian intervention | 31 |
"They recognize they may be the only way to stop it before law enforcement arrives," said James Keith, a spokesperson for the ALERRT center, describing why some civilians intervene.
Local and national implications
The Bend shooting has touched on debates that extend beyond this community. Advocates for broader civilian gun rights have long argued that armed bystanders can be a crucial line of defense in mass attacks; critics point out the rarity of successful interventions, the risks of misidentification or additional casualties, and the potential legal and safety complications when civilians engage active shooters.
Police and public safety officials say first responders’ arrival times, secured perimeters and coordinated law-enforcement action typically remain the best protections, but the Silver Rail incident underscores that outcomes in active-attacker events can vary widely and sometimes hinge on who is present and how they react in chaos.
What families and community members should know
Investigations into school shootings typically take time as detectives reconstruct events, interview witnesses and review video and physical evidence. Residents and families in Bend can expect:
- Continued updates from Bend Police as the investigation progresses;
- Briefings and support services from local education and mental health providers for students and staff;
- Possible reviews of school access, visitor policies and security measures by district officials.
School officials and law enforcement often urge parents and guardians to follow official channels for information and to avoid sharing unverified accounts on social media that can complicate investigations.
Ongoing reporting
Bend authorities have not released the shooter’s name or full details about how the attacker entered the classroom. Officials also have not said whether charges beyond the attack itself will be filed against the attacker or whether the armed civilian will face any legal review. Questions about whether the armed intervention prevented additional casualties will be addressed as investigators complete their work.
The case is likely to reignite conversations across Oregon and nationwide about school safety, civilian armament and public policy, even as local families and first responders focus on recovery and supporting grieving communities.
We will update this story as officials release more information.
