The mother of the teenager accused of the Oregon school shooting has defended her son as “a good boy” while expressing remorse over the deaths of four people at a primary school in Bend.
Shauntai May Nickerson was in tears outside her apartment as she spoke about her 16-year-old son, John J. Griffin II. She repeatedly apologised and said she missed him, adding: “If I could have prevented this, I would have.”
Nickerson said her son had faced difficulties for years, including during the Covid-19 pandemic, when remote learning proved particularly challenging for him.
In 2020, she said he had special needs and required trained educators to help him succeed. Griffin was also part of the school district’s NEST programme, which supports pupils experiencing serious behavioural and social challenges.
Griffin opened fire at Silver Rail Elementary School on Thursday, killing three children and a teacher in a special needs classroom. The school was one he had previously attended.
He was reportedly carrying a pump-action shotgun that had been purchased by his mother, although Nickerson would not say how he obtained it.
The shooting ended when Kaylub Giamanco, an armed father, chased Griffin into the school and fatally shot him.
Police have not disclosed a motive for the attack.
