Oregon school shooter ID'd, used shotgun bought by mother, sources say

A 16-year-old former student, identified as Griffin J. John II, attacked Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon. Three children and 25-year-old teacher Meghan Lambert were killed. Two other victims were seriously wounded. The attack matters because it struck a school classroom and involved both a student connection and rapid intervention by adults nearby.

Police said the attacker entered after forcing open glass doors and went directly to a classroom. The victims were all shot there. A teacher threw her cellphone, tackled the attacker, and fought for the firearm. Kaylub Giamanco, whose children attended the school, entered with a legally owned .40-caliber pistol and shot the suspect multiple times.

Authorities said the suspect died at the scene. The teacher was not hurt, while Giamanco’s actions were praised as heroic. Police have not provided a motive. Investigators were examining the suspect’s computer, phone, social media, search history, and other online activity.

A Maverick 88 pump-action 12-gauge shotgun is a long firearm designed to fire 12-gauge shotgun shells. “Pump-action” describes its manually operated cycling system. The article identifies this model and ammunition but does not explain its design. In general, a shotgun shell can hold multiple pellets or one slug, depending on the load.

A pistol is a handgun built for shorter cartridges and usually held with one hand. It fires a single projectile from each cartridge. The important differences are the firearm’s size, ammunition type, and operating design. The article says the bystander carried a legally owned .40-caliber pistol, while the suspect had a Maverick 88.

These differences mattered because investigators found different firearms at the scene. Police said the suspect’s shotgun was near him, along with a backpack. The bystander used his pistol during the confrontation. The article does not state the shotgun’s purchase date or storage arrangements.

The attack killed four people. The victims were three children, ages 5, 8, and 11, and 25-year-old teacher Meghan Lambert. Two others were seriously wounded: a 7-year-old girl and 54-year-old teacher Becky Drury. This means six people were killed or seriously wounded altogether.

Police Chief Mike Krantz said the suspect fired as many as 15 rounds. Officers also found 44 remaining rounds of ammunition at the scene. The shotgun had been used with three ammunition types: birdshot, buckshot, and slugs. These figures show both the immediate violence and the amount of ammunition investigators reported finding afterward.

The 7-year-old girl was in serious but stable condition at Oregon Health & Science University. Drury had serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at St. Charles Medical Center. Police responded within minutes and found the deceased suspect and victims inside.

The intervention mattered because two adults confronted the attacker before more people were hurt. Police Chief Mike Krantz said the teacher engaged the suspect in a physical struggle. He praised her actions, saying she almost certainly helped prevent more bloodshed. She was not injured during the confrontation.

The teacher first threw her cellphone at the suspect, then tackled him and fought to take the firearm. At the same time, Kaylub Giamanco, a 36-year-old parent whose children attended the school, entered with a legally owned .40-caliber pistol. He heard shooting and saw the struggle.

Giamanco fired his pistol and struck the suspect multiple times. Authorities said the suspect was shot and killed by a bystander at the school. Giamanco’s family said he was not seeking recognition. He expressed gratitude to first responders, school personnel, and the community.

These names describe the projectile or projectiles inside a shotgun shell. Birdshot contains many small pellets. Buckshot contains fewer, larger pellets. A slug contains one large projectile. The article reports that all three types were used, but it does not identify when each type was fired or connect any type to a particular victim.

The differences affect how the ammunition is generally used. Birdshot is commonly associated with small-game hunting and target shooting. Buckshot is used when a wider pattern of larger pellets is desired. Slugs are used when one heavier projectile is preferred. Actual suitability depends on the firearm, distance, and lawful purpose.

Police found a Maverick 88 pump-action 12-gauge shotgun near the suspect. Chief Mike Krantz said investigators recovered ammunition in these three forms. He also reported up to 15 rounds fired and 44 remaining rounds. The investigation was still preliminary, so more details could emerge.

When an adult buys a firearm, legal duties depend on the jurisdiction and the circumstances of the purchase. Practical responsibility generally includes following purchase and transfer rules, storing the firearm securely, and preventing access by children or other unauthorized people. Safe storage matters because ownership does not remove the risk created by unsupervised access.

Responsible storage commonly means using a locked container or locking device and keeping ammunition secured as well. Adults should know who can access keys, codes, or combinations. They should also follow safety training and promptly report a missing firearm. These are general safety principles, not details established about this case.

The article says law enforcement sources identified the shotgun as purchased by the suspect’s mother. It does not say where or how she stored it, whether the suspect accessed it with permission, or whether any law was violated. Investigators were still examining the case, so those questions remained unresolved.

In a pump-action shotgun, the shooter loads compatible shells into the firearm. Pulling the trigger fires the chambered shell. Moving the pump backward ejects the spent shell, and moving it forward loads another shell from the internal ammunition supply. The process prepares the shotgun for another shot without replacing the firearm.

Shotgun shells can contain different payloads while retaining the same gauge and compatible dimensions. Birdshot holds many small pellets, buckshot holds larger pellets, and a slug holds one projectile. A 12-gauge shotgun can use these different loads when the shell length and firearm specifications are compatible. The manufacturer’s limits always matter.

Police said the suspect’s Maverick 88 was a pump-action 12-gauge shotgun. Investigators reported birdshot, buckshot, and slugs among the ammunition used. They also said up to 15 rounds were fired and 44 remaining rounds were found. The article does not describe the loading sequence at the scene.