John J Griffin, a 16-year-old from Bend, Oregon , was identified as the suspect in Thursday’s shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School that killed four and injured two critically.
His identity was confirmed by his brother, Kyle Giamanco, to NBC News. “We are broken and lost but are surrounded by friends and family who are keeping us safe. John J. Griffin, who was shot dead by a bystander, was identified by NBC News citing three senior law enforcement officials briefed on the matter. Griffin’s link to Silver Rail Elementary school is unclear as the investigation into the shooting continues. A seven-year-old student and a teacher were critically injured. The bystander who fatally shot John J. Griffin was identified as Kaylub Giamanco. Giamanco, a carpenter, has two daughters who attend Silver Rail Elementary School. Griffin then shot the locked door, which opened it. He entered the school and started firing, killing three and injuring four. The identities of the other two deceased victims are not known. The two injured victims are critical and being treated.
Per NBC News, the shotgun that Griffin used for the shooting was purchased by his mother around the 16-year-old’s birthday in August. Griffin used a pump-action shotgun and opened fire around 12:30pm PDT Thursday. Three children – a five-year-old, an eight-year-old and an 11-year-old were killed. Griffin arrived at the school around 12:30pm PDT Thursday. The first 911 call was made at 1pm PDT, Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said. When the police officers arrived, the 16-year-old suspect was found dead inside the school, he added.
Before entering the school compound, he fired at a truck outside the school that was left with “about seven or eight gunshot holes,” according to an eyewitness who spoke to NBC News. Kaylub Giamanco’s brother said that he was carrying a concealed weapon and decided to follow Griffin inside. “My son Rhoam was killed in a school shooting,” she wrote.
