The man being hailed as a hero by his community and President Donald Trump after confronting and killing the gunman who opened fire inside a special needs classroom at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, Oregon, is speaking out about the harrowing events that day.
In an interview with Oregon Public Broadcasting, Kaylub Giamanco, 36, recounted the terrifying events on October 15, when he found himself inside the school confronting 16-year-old Griffin J. John II. Giamanco ultimately killed the gunman, bringing the attack to an end and potentially preventing further loss of life.
Bend School Shooting Hero Shares How Ordinary Lunch Decision Led Him to Be Near Elementary School
Kaylub Giamanco is breaking his silence about the horrific events that transpired on October 15, when 16-year-old gunman Griffin J. John II walked into a special needs classroom at Silver Rail Elementary in Oregon, killing three young children and a teacher. Two others were also seriously injured in the mass shooting.
Giamanco, a carpenter, recalled that day with Oregon Public Broadcasting how a seemingly ordinary lunch decision led him to be near the school that day. Unhappy with his lunch, he decided to drive home and eat leftovers with his wife instead. He also considered stopping at a store to purchase bolts but ultimately chose to drive home.
As he neared the school, Giamanco says he spotted a “man in black” with a gun opening fire on two people. He then witnessed the gunman tossing his gun over the school fence before he climbed over it himself. Giamanco carries a .40 caliber handgun in his truck and knew what was about to happen, telling the outlet, “That’s when panic filled my brain, and that’s when I opened my center console.”
Giamanco, who has two daughters who attend Silver Rail Elementary, dialed 911, but did not want to wait to answer questions, instead, finding himself on his knees as he crawled closer to the school. “That’s when I started hearing children pleading for their lives, and then I started hearing gunfire, and I just started army crawling faster and faster, and I told myself, ‘This is probably the last thing that I’m ever going to do,’” he said.
Giamanco was able to get inside from a shot-out window, and reached the special needs classroom, which was occupied by five students and three teachers, per OPB.
Giamanco Comes Face-to-Face with the Gunman
After successfully entering the school and re-racking his gun, Giamanco detailed coming face-to-face with the 16-year-old gunman and seeing a teacher fighting for the mass shooter’s weapon. “I knew that he did not know that I was there. I fired.”
Giamanco stated that after shooting the gunman once, he was still alive and trying to reach for his gun. Giamanco shot him two more times, killing him. ” I looked at him, and I shot him two more times to make sure that he couldn’t move because I was afraid of him shooting anybody else.”
Although Giamanco has been hailed as a hero around the world, he revealed in his interview that the tragedy continues to haunt him. “I relive, I see faces, I hear voices, I hear screams,” he shared.
The carpenter also expressed his deep sorrow over not arriving sooner and potentially saving the lives of the young children who were tragically killed in the shooting. “I want to apologize for not saving their babies. The gratitude for saving people’s children is awesome, but there were ones that I didn’t save.”
A GoFundMe Has Been Created to Help Giamanco & His Family Heal After the Emotional & Psychological Impact of the Shooting
Before breaking his silence on the tragic day, Giamanco’s family shared a statement that read that the Bend native “is not seeking recognition, but instead wishes to express his gratitude to the first responders, school personnel, and community for the outpouring of love and support.”
A GoFundMe has been launched for Giamanco and his family as they navigate the “emotional and psychological impact” of the tragedy. The fundraiser aims to help cover the cost of therapy and provide financial assistance while Giamanco takes time off work to process his experience and be there for his family.
As of this writing, over $400,000 has already been raised to support Giamanco and his family.
Bend School Shooting Hero Reveals What Happened When He Confronted the 16-Year-Old Shooter