A bystander who stopped the Silver Rail Elementary School shooting in Bend, Oregon, has identified himself as Kaylub Giamanco, a lifelong resident of the city with two daughters at the school.
Police said Mr Giamanco pursued and fatally shot the 16-year-old attacker, ending an assault in which three children and a teacher were killed. A student and another teacher were critically injured.
At a news conference, Bend police chief Mike Krantz also praised a teacher who threw her mobile phone at the gunman before tackling him and fighting to take his firearm. She was not injured.
“In addition to the 36-year-old man who bravely stepped in to stop the suspect, I want to highlight another person whose heroic action we need to recognise,” Mr Krantz said.
He said the teacher’s actions “almost certainly helped prevent more bloodshed”.
Police said the gunman entered the school by shooting through the glass on locked doors. Officers arriving minutes later found the dead attacker and four victims inside: children aged five, eight and 11, and a 25-year-old teacher.
The attacker was identified as Griffin J. John II. Police said he was from Bend and had previously attended the school. Law enforcement sources said he used a shotgun bought by his mother.
In a statement, Mr Giamanco’s family said he was not seeking recognition and expressed gratitude to first responders, school staff and the community for their support.
“The tragedy at Silver Rail Elementary has devastated the Bend community,” the family said, adding that they were asking for privacy and would not be giving interviews.
President Donald Trump called Mr Giamanco a “great hero” who “took care of business”, saying: “Thank God we had him; otherwise, it would have been much worse.”
Oregon governor Tina Kotek said the bystander had “heroically intervened to stop further loss of life”, while noting that his actions carried “a heavy emotional burden”.
