Tragic School Shooting in Bend, Oregon: Details Emerge

The gun used by a 16-year-old to commit a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, was a birthday gift from the shooter’s mother. Sources informed CBS News that the Maverick 88 pump-action 12-gauge shotgun was legally bought in August 2026 by Shauntai Nickerson and given to her son, Griffin J. John II.

In 2020, Nickerson shared with a local television station that her son struggled with remote learning during the pandemic due to his special needs. Nickerson expressed hope for him to benefit from skilled teachers once schools reopened.

Police reported that the shooter initially targeted a passing pickup truck, prompting a 911 call. The assailant then forced entry into the school by shooting through glass doors. Inside, he entered the first classroom and killed three children and a teacher, while also injuring two others.

The victims included children aged 5, 8, and 11. The teacher was identified as 25-year-old Megan Lambert. The youngest victim, a 5-year-old named Rhoam Summer, was identified by family. The other children’s families have not yet disclosed their names.

The injured included a 7-year-old girl and a 54-year-old teacher. A makeshift memorial with flowers and candles emerged at Silver Rail Elementary.

At the time of the shooting, the classroom held four adults and five children. The shooter was eventually shot and killed by 36-year-old Kaylub Giamanco, a bystander who followed the shooter into the school. Giamanco, a Bend resident, has two children at the school.

The shooter had previously attended Silver Rail Elementary. As of now, no motive has been disclosed.

The Bend Police Department intended to conclude evidence collection at the school by the day’s end and return the facility to the school district. Investigators are examining the shooter’s digital footprint, including computer and phone activity.