Oregon School Shooting Hero Called His Mother After Killing Gunman: “I Shot and Killed Him, Mom”

Kaylub Giamanco, a 36-year-old father of two girls attending the school, rushed into danger to stop a teenage gunman. But even after his intervention helped end the attack, he was left haunted by the children he could not save.

A father who confronted a teenage gunman during a deadly shooting at an Oregon elementary school made an emotional phone call to his mother moments after the terrifying ordeal, telling her in disbelief that he had shot and killed the attacker.

“Mom, I just shot and killed somebody,” Kaylub Giamanco told his mother, Kenda Freeman, according to her account to local media.

The 36-year-old carpenter had been driving near Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, on October 15 when he encountered a gunman opening fire. With his two young daughters attending the school, Giamanco rushed toward the unfolding emergency, ultimately confronting and fatally shooting the 16-year-old suspect, Griffin John.

His intervention helped bring the attack to an end. But by then, the shooting had already claimed the lives of three children and a 25-year-old teacher. Two other victims, including a young student, were critically injured.

The events left Giamanco facing the emotional weight of a decision made in seconds — one that his family says helped prevent further bloodshed but could not undo the devastating losses.

“A Man Went Into My Daughter’s School and Shot Kids”

According to Freeman, her son called her shortly after confronting the gunman.

She recalled asking him to explain what had happened as she listened to his account of the frightening encounter.

Giamanco told her that a man had entered his daughters’ school and begun shooting children. He then described facing the attacker directly before firing his weapon.

Freeman said she was proud of her son for acting to protect others, but the relief that her grandchildren were safe was overshadowed by the knowledge that other families had lost their children.

“It’s tough because I’m — well, I’m thankful that my babies are okay,” she said emotionally. “There are babies that are not.”

Her words captured the painful reality confronting families after the shooting: while some children survived, others would never return home.

For Giamanco, the incident was especially personal. He was not a police officer responding to a call or a school employee carrying out an emergency plan. He was a father whose children attended the school and who happened to be nearby when the violence began.

A Father’s Split-Second Decision

Reports indicate that Giamanco was returning from his lunch break when he saw the armed teenager near the school.

The gunman had reportedly fired at a driver who attempted to intervene before moving toward the school building. Giamanco pursued him as the situation escalated.

He entered the building through a window that had been shattered during the attack and encountered a teacher struggling to stop the shooter.

Authorities said Giamanco, who legally carried a firearm, fired at the teenager, killing him and ending the immediate threat.

The confrontation unfolded amid extraordinary danger, with children and school staff caught in the chaos.

Giamanco’s actions have been praised by relatives and public officials, including Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, who acknowledged that intervening in such circumstances can carry a heavy emotional burden.

Yet the outcome was not the one any parent would have wanted. Despite his intervention, several victims had already been shot.

“Mom, I Couldn’t Save Them All”

In the aftermath, Giamanco’s family said he was struggling with the knowledge that he had been unable to prevent every death.

His mother recalled telling him that he was a hero and that she was proud of him for intervening.

But his response revealed the anguish behind the praise.

“Mom, I couldn’t save them all,” he told her, according to his mother’s account.

The words reflected a painful sense of responsibility that can follow people who intervene during life-threatening emergencies. Although Giamanco helped stop the attacker, he was reportedly deeply affected by the children and teacher who died before he could reach them.

His family has asked for understanding as he processes what happened.

The incident underscores an often-overlooked aspect of emergency intervention: surviving a violent encounter does not mean escaping its emotional consequences. People who act to protect others may continue to struggle with memories of those they could not help.

For Giamanco, the fact that his own daughters were safe offered relief, but it could not erase the grief surrounding the other families.

Four Lives Lost in a School Community’s Worst Nightmare

The October 15 shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School killed three students, aged 5, 8 and 11, as well as Megan Lambert, a 25-year-old teacher.

A 7-year-old student and a 54-year-old teacher, Becky Drury, were also injured. Early reports described their conditions as critical.

The tragedy devastated the school community and left families searching for answers about how a teenager was able to carry out the attack.

Authorities identified the suspect as Griffin John, 16, a former student who had attended special