Former student kills four at Oregon elementary, stopped by parent with pistol
A 16-year-old former special-needs student opened fire at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, killing four and wounding two before being shot by a father of two students.
Police identified the gunman as 16-year-old Griffin J. John II, a former special-needs student at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, Oregon. He entered a classroom for special-needs students and fired a 12-gauge shotgun, killing three children aged 5, 8 and 11 and teacher Meghan Lambert, and wounding a 7-year-old and teacher Becky Drury. A teacher, Meghan Lambert, threw her phone at the shooter and grappled with him, and a father of two students, Kaylub Giamanco, entered the school with a.40-caliber pistol and shot the attacker dead.
The shooter had about 44 rounds left in the weapon, and authorities are still determining how he obtained the shotgun, which police say was purchased by his mother, Shauntai Nickerson. Governor Tina Kotek and President Donald Trump commented on the incident, praising the civilian’s actions. Classes were canceled city-wide and memorials appeared at the school.
How this was covered
- Left-leaning coverage is the most divided on this story
- Coverage peaked at 12 outlets in a single hour
Why it matters
It underscores the dangers of firearm access in schools and the role of civilians in stopping mass shootings.
How this story developed
- Oct 15 Shooter wounded multiple people at Oregon elementary before being killed by police
- Oct 16 The reported death toll has been updated from initial figures to five, including the shooter.
- Oct 16 Investigators identified the shooter as John Griffin of Bend, Oregon.
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