On Thursday, a 16‑year‑old student, Griffin J. John II, opened fire at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, killing three children and a 25‑year‑old teacher. The shooting took place at 13:02 local time, three minutes after the first report of gunfire. Police arrived to find John already dead in the classroom. The victims—a 5‑year‑old, an 8‑year‑old, an 11‑year‑old, and the teacher—were all in a special‑education classroom when the shots were fired. John reportedly discharged up to 15 rounds from a pump‑action rifle, according to Police Chief Mike Krantz. He had previously attended a special class at the same school. A female teacher acted quickly, throwing her mobile phone at John and then tackling him, which Chief Krantz said “prevented him from doing more harm.” The teacher was not injured. A 7‑year‑old student and a 54‑year‑old teacher were taken to the hospital with serious injuries. The 54‑year‑old teacher was later released. Kaylub Giamanco, a 36‑year‑old father of two students at the school, followed John into the building after seeing him fire outside. Giamanco shot and killed John with a handgun he had legally stored in his vehicle. Governor Tina Kotek and President Donald Trump both praised Giamanco as a hero for stopping the attack. The incident is the deadliest school shooting in the United States this year.
Article source: Verdens Gang | Image credit: Verdens Gang