Erica Siaulinski, Staff Writer
Schools throughout the Bend, Oregon area have closed for the day in mourning of three students and a teacher who were shot and killed at Silver Rail Elementary by a 16 year old killer and former student, whose motives still remain unknown and undisclosed.
The shooter forced entry and entered the elementary school on October 15th, 2026 with a pump-action shotgun, where they targeted a special education classroom. Teacher Megan Lampbert was shot, alongside three of her students, aged just 5, 8 and 11 years old. A teacher and student did manage to escape the classroom during this time, presumably to get help. The shooting was stopped when another teacher interfered, by throwing her cell phone at the shooter to divert their attention. She then tackled the shooter and retrieved his weapon . Authorities confirm that she did prevent any further fatalities that day.
Kaylub Giamanco, a 36-year-old carpenter and father of two daughters was driving by when a vehicle on the road was fired at. He followed the person who had opened fire on the other vehicle, and recognized what was happening when the driver pulled into the school. During the shooting, he reached for his own concealed weapon. He entered the school and fatally shot the 16 year old gunman, effectively ending the violence and any further potential fatalities.
“We hold each of them and their families and their loved ones close in our hearts as we mourn together as one community,” Bend-La Pine Superintendent Steve Cook said in a video posted the Sunday following the shooting. “Our responsibilities to care for one another will continue well beyond these first days.”
When asked what charges are to be brought about, the Deschutes County Police Department confirmed that the investigation was open. It is unclear if the shooter’s parents may receive any charges, as they were the legal patrons of the pump-action shotgun used in the attack. Since Oregon law doesn’t allow any minors under the age of 18 to purchase a firearm, minors are only able to legally obtain a firearm if a parent or guardian above the age of 18 buys it for them. The minor is able to lawfully obtain the firearm for hunting, or shooting practice according to state law.
Law enforcement confirmed that they are trying to detect a motive from the gunman, as well as an answer as to why he may have targeted the special education classroom. A former student at Silver Rail Elementary school, who was confirmed to have received special education services himself in the building but it is unclear if he was once a student in the particular classroom he targeted.
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