Family Identifies Bend Carpenter Kaylub Giamanco as Man Who Shot Silver Rail Elementary Gunman

The man who stopped Thursday's shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, is Kaylub Giamanco, a 36-year-old lifelong Bend resident and carpenter, according to his family. His two daughters attend the school.

His mother, Kenda Freeman, read a statement to reporters on Friday, Oct. 16. "He is not seeking recognition, but instead wishes to express his gratitude to the first responders, school personnel and community for the outpouring of love and support," it said. The family asked for privacy and said Giamanco will not give interviews.

What happened Thursday

Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said the shooter got into the building by firing at locked doors. A bystander pursued him inside and shot him dead, Krantz said. Police arrived minutes later and found the gunman and four victims inside.

The dead are three children, ages 5, 8 and 11, and a teacher. Two others were hospitalized in critical condition: a 7-year-old student and a 54-year-old teacher. Kyle Giamanco, Kaylub's brother, told NBC News the 7-year-old was shot in the face and is recovering after surgery.

Dispatchers began getting 911 calls about an active shooter at around 1 p.m., police communications manager Sheila Miller said. The school has roughly 450 students.

The bystander's account, as told by his brother

Kyle Giamanco said his brother was driving home on his lunch break when he heard gunshots and saw the gunman going into the school. Kaylub holds a concealed-weapon permit and "decided to go in after" the shooter, Kyle said.

Some early online chatter claimed Kaylub was at the school to pick up his daughters. Kyle said he was not.

Kyle and several parents told NBC News the shooting took place in a special education room; police have not confirmed that detail. Police have not confirmed that.

Kyle also said his brother does not feel like a hero. "He can't get the children out of his head and feels guilty he didn't save more people," he said.

Gov. Tina Kotek praised the intervention at a Thursday news conference without naming him. "To the community member who heroically intervened to stop further loss of life: Your actions carry a heavy emotional burden, and I just want you to know that my thoughts are with you as well," she said.

President Donald Trump named Giamanco on Friday ahead of a rally in Georgia. "We had a great hero that went in and did the business," he told reporters. "Thank goodness for a man that had a gun and knew how to use it."

The shooter

Three senior law enforcement officials told NBC News the gunman is John J. Griffin, 16, of Bend. Two of them said the pump-action shotgun was bought by his mother around his birthday in August. Police have not publicly confirmed the name or how the gun was acquired.

Police have also not said whether Griffin had any connection to Silver Rail. Authorities are investigating his motive.

A community in mourning

About 500 people gathered Thursday night at Drake Park for a vigil, including Kotek and Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler. Flowers piled up outside the school on Friday, and all Bend-La Pine schools stayed closed.

Superintendent Steven Cook said in a statement: "We are stunned and heartbroken by this senseless tragedy." He said the district's immediate priorities are caring for students and staff and assisting law enforcement.

Authorities scheduled a news conference for 2 p.m. local time Friday. Investigators are still working the scene, and the open questions are the ones police have not answered: why Griffin attacked, whether he chose the school for a reason, and what the full timeline shows about the minutes between the first shots and the arrival of officers.