An Oregon father who rushed into Silver Rail Elementary School and stopped a 16-year-old mass shooter is being credited with preventing an even greater tragedy.
According to The Post Millennial, 36-year-old Kaylub Giamanco, a father of two students at the school, acted within minutes to confront the attacker, who had already opened fire on his vehicle as he drove past the campus during his lunch break. Giamancos family told Newsmax that gunman John J. Griffin first shot into Giamancos car, then turned his weapon toward the school, prompting the armed father to follow him inside and end the threat in less than three minutes, before law enforcement arrived.
The teen killer murdered three children, ages 5, 8, and 11, in the assault on the elementary school. Police said a 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher remain hospitalized in critical condition, and another teacher was pronounced dead at the scene.
Bend Police Chief Mike Kantz stated that Giamanco neutralized the shooter shortly after Griffin entered the building by firing at door locks to stop his advance. The rapid response by an armed citizen underscores the argument long made by conservatives that responsible gun ownership can be a decisive factor in halting violent criminals when seconds matter and police are still en route.
President Donald Trump praised Giamancos actions in remarks to reporters outside the White House on Friday, calling him a hero. Thank God we had him, otherwise it would've been much worse, said President Trump, adding, It's a terrible thing, but thank goodness for a man that had a gun and knew how to use it.
The Bend Police Department began receiving reports of a suspect firing multiple rounds into a vehicle at 12:59 pm, followed almost immediately by dozens of 911 calls that a gunman had entered the school and opened fire. Officers arrived at approximately 1:02 pm, and within seconds dispatch informed them that the suspect had already been neutralized, a timeline that highlights how quickly a determined defender can change the outcome.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek also acknowledged Giamancos actions, despite her partys frequent push for stricter gun control. To the community member who heroically intervened to stop further loss of life: Your actions carry a heavy emotional burden, and I just want you to know that my thoughts are with you as well, she said during a Thursday press briefing, as the community grapples with grief and the nation again confronts whether disarming law-abiding citizens would leave schools even more vulnerable to evil.
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