Summary
- Father Kaylub Giamanco pursued an armed teenager into Silver Rail Elementary and fatally shot him.
- Newly released 911 audio records a dispatcher telling Giamanco not to act while he reported the gunman was already firing.
- His intervention ended an attack that had already killed three children and a teacher before police arrived.
What Happened
Deschutes County released a 78-second 911 call on November 3 that captures Kaylub Giamanco racing toward Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, during the October 15 attack.
Giamanco, 36, was driving home for lunch when he saw 16-year-old Griffin J. John II carrying a shotgun near the school attended by Giamanco’s two daughters. He retrieved his legally owned .40-caliber pistol and called 911. “Someone’s at my daughter’s school with a gun,” he told the dispatcher, adding that he would shoot if necessary.
The dispatcher told him, “Don’t do anything. Let me get an officer there.” Giamanco repeatedly identified the school and then reported that the teenager was entering the building and shooting. His side of the call went silent as dispatch said help was en route.
Bend Police said the attacker had fired at a passing truck, climbed the school fence, and shot through locked exterior doors. He entered a classroom and fired as many as 15 rounds. Teacher Cassidy Schutz threw her phone at him, tackled him, and fought for the shotgun. Giamanco entered through an open window and shot the teenager while Schutz struggled with him.
Police arrived at 1:02 p.m., about three minutes after the first 911 call, and found the gunman dead. The attacker killed students ages 5, 8, and 11 and 25-year-old teacher Megan Lambert. A 7-year-old student and teacher Becky Drury were seriously wounded. Giamanco later credited Schutz with creating the opening that let him fire.
Related Reading
- Bend Police: October 19 Silver Rail shooting update
- Bend Police: October 21 investigation update
- Oregon Public Broadcasting: Deschutes County releases Giamanco’s 911 audio
- Associated Press: Authorities release 911 call
- OPB: Full interview with Kaylub Giamanco
