The mother of the Oregon father who confronted a teenage gunman at an elementary school has described her son’s quick thinking and “genuine heart” during the attack.
Kenda Freeman said her 36-year-old son, Kaylub Giamanco, stopped 16-year-old Griffin John II after the teenager opened fire at Silver Rail Elementary School shortly before 1pm on Thursday.
“Kaylub knew something was not right, so he pulled up onto the grass, grabbed his gun and basically stalked the gunman back into the school,” she told CBS News.
“He crawled through a window that the gunman had shot out. He army crawled through the window.”
The father of two called Freeman moments after confronting the shooter.
“He said: ‘Mom, I just shot and killed somebody,’” she recalled to the outlet. “I said: ‘Kaylub, tell me about it.’
“He said: ‘A man went into my daughter’s school and shot kids,’” Freeman recalled. “And he said: ‘And I looked at him point-blank, and I shot and killed him, Mom.’”
People in Bend have praised Giamanco as a hero, saying his actions helped save the lives of numerous children.
Kaylub Giamanco, 36, killed school shooter Griffin John II on Thursday as the teenager opened fire on children at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon
Giamanco’s mother said her son “stalked” the gunman before “army crawling” through a window John II had shot out and confronting the shooter
Griffin John II, 16, killed three students and one teacher on Thursday
“Kaylub has a genuine heart and he loves his community and his family and his children,” Freeman said. “He’s just a good person, in general.”
Despite being hailed as a hero, Giamanco was left traumatized by the incident, according to his mother.
“I told him he was a hero, he did what he had to do, and that he did the right thing, and that I was proud of him and that he was a hero and he saved a lot of lives,” Freeman told the outlet.
“And he said: ‘Mom, I couldn’t save them all.’”
Before Giamanco shot him, John killed three students—including five-year-old Rhoam Summer—and 25-year-old teacher Meghan Lambert. He also injured seven-year-old Saylor Graham and educational assistant Becky Drury.
Police said John fired 15 rounds before Giamanco killed him. Investigators said the teenager targeted the special-needs classroom, where he had once been a student.
John used a firearm his mother had bought around his 16th birthday in August. Law enforcement officials said they were still investigating how he obtained the ammunition, describing the case as “very active.”
His motive remains unknown.
Giamanco’s mother, Kenda Freeman, received a call from him immediately after the confrontation, when he told her he had killed the shooter. She has called her son a hero
Three students – ages five, eight and 11 – and one teacher were killed by the former student. The five-year-old was identified by his father as Rhoam Summer. The teacher was Meghan Lambert, 25. Saylor Graham, seven, was shot in the face, but lived
Giamanco is struggling to accept that he couldn’t save all the children and were traumatized by the experience, his mother said
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Giamanco holds a concealed carry license in hopes of protecting his family, his mother said.
Giamanco is a carpenter and a father of two girls, ages five and 10, who attend Silver Rail Elementary, his brother told NBC News.
His actions were hailed as heroic by Governor Tina Kotek shortly after the incident, crediting Giamanco with preventing ‘further loss of life.’
‘To the community member who heroically intervened…your actions carry a heavy emotional burden and I want you to know my thoughts are with you as well,’ Kotek said at a press conference.
‘My heart is absolutely broken today… this is a horrible day. No parent should have to have this kind of day,’ she added.
President Donald Trump also praised Giamanco for stopping the Oregon school shooting.
‘Well, I’ll tell you what, there was a great hero. It could have been worse, as bad as it was. We had a great hero that went in and did the business,’ Trump told reporters outside of the White House on Friday.
‘He took care of business, and thank God we had him. Otherwise, it would have been much worse. It’s a terrible thing, but thank goodness for a man that had a gun and knew how to use it.’
‘I looked at him point-blank, and I shot and killed him, Mom,”‘ his mother recalled him saying. Giamanco’s children attend the school
People gather for a candlelight vigil held in Drake Park to honor and remember those lost and affected by the shooting on Thursday afternoon
Community members grieve during a candlelight vigil at Drake Park
A GoFundMe has been set up for Giamanco to help pay for therapy, any legal expenses he may face, and to support him while he takes time off work following the tragedy. The fundraiser has garnered nearly $280,000 by Saturday afternoon.
‘Kaylub, his wife Kelsey, and their two young daughters have an incredibly difficult road ahead of them,’ the fundraiser stated.
‘The emotional and psychological impact of this tragedy cannot be overstated, and they deserve the time, space and resources to begin healing together.’
Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Dr Steven Cook held back tears as he thanked emergency responders and the schools staff for their efforts to protect students during the attack on Thursday.
‘Today, an unthinkable tragedy happened at Silver Rail Elementary School,’ he began.
‘We are heartbroken. We are horrified. This is the kind of thing you hear about in other places and pray that it never happens here… today it happened to our children, our teachers and our families.’
As Cook uttered words to his community, his voice wavered when he thanked the heroic efforts of the school staff.
‘To our staff who helped our students and protected our kids today, we thank you. You did what no one should ever be asked to do. I am so grateful beyond words for your efforts,’ he said.
‘This is a time to love and care for one another…Please hold your loved ones tight tonight…We are going to rally and care for one another… We will get through this.’
‘We are stunned and heartbroken by this senseless tragedy,’ he said.
Community members held a prayer vigil that was lit by candlelight on Thursday for those killed in the tragedy.
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