The recent tragic shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, involved a 16-year-old shooter who used a gun gifted by his mother. The weapon, a Maverick 88 pump-action 12-gauge shotgun, was legally purchased in August 2026 by Shauntai Nickerson for her son, Griffin J. John II, for recreational purposes.
Back in 2020, Nickerson shared with a local TV station that her son, then 10, faced challenges with remote learning due to his special needs during the pandemic. She expressed hope that returning to school would help him receive necessary support from teachers.
The incident began when the shooter fired at a passing pickup truck, prompting the driver to call 911. He then forced entry into the school by shooting through glass doors. Inside, he targeted the first classroom, killing three children aged 5, 8, and 11, as well as a 25-year-old teacher named Megan Lambert. Two others, a 7-year-old girl and a 54-year-old teacher, sustained injuries.
The 5-year-old victim was identified as Rhoam Summer, while the families of the other child victims have chosen to keep their names private. Makeshift memorials at the school feature flowers and candles, placed by mourners.
There were nine individuals—four adults and five children—in the classroom at the time of the shooting. The assailant was ultimately shot and killed by a bystander, 36-year-old Kaylub Giamanco, who had witnessed the attack on the pickup truck and pursued the shooter into the school. Giamanco’s daughters attend the school.
The shooter, a former student at Silver Rail Elementary, did not leave any clear motive for the attack. The Bend Police Department estimated that evidence collection at the school would conclude by the end of the following Monday, after which the building would be handed back to the school district.
Investigators are thoroughly examining the shooter’s digital footprint, including his computer, phone, and social media activity, to uncover any clues related to the incident.