Man who stopped the Oregon elementary school shooter has 2 daughters at the school, his mom says

BEND, Oregon (AP) — The gunman who ended an elementary school shooting by taking down the teenager with his own firearm is the father of two daughters enrolled at the very school where the terror unfolded, his mother confirmed on Friday. In a statement to reporters, Kenda Freeman disclosed that her son, Kaylub Giamanco, played a pivotal role in preventing further loss of life during Thursday's attack at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend.

Three students and a teacher perished, while a fourth student and another educator were critically wounded. According to Kenda Freeman, her son's act of courage is driven by gratitude towards first responders, school staff, and the community for their overwhelming support. She emphasized that he is not seeking attention but wishes to convey his appreciation.

Kenda Freeman further noted that her son is a longtime resident of Bend, a rapidly expanding city nestled amidst mountains with a population of approximately 100,000. Police have not yet publicly identified the individual who felled the shooter, only stating that the suspect was found deceased inside the school shortly after the initial reports.

The shooter's identity remains undisclosed. Governor Tina Kotek, during a news conference held hours after the incident, commended Giamanco for actively pursuing the gunman into the school, stressing that his actions likely thwarted further casualties and facilitated the arrival of law enforcement. Tributes adorned with flowers, balloons, and stuffed animals began appearing near the school, situated in a densely populated neighborhood replete with recently constructed residences.

Brooke Olsen, whose daughter is a kindergartener at Silver Rail, expressed amazement at the notion of a private citizen intervening to thwart the shooter. She described the act as "miraculous" that someone was present before law enforcement arrived to quell the impending catastrophe, her emotions visibly wavers as she weeps. Olsen expressed profound gratitude for the hero's intervention.

The 16-year-old perpetrator, identified solely as a resident of Bend, was discovered lifeless inside the school minutes after the first distress calls. Police Chief Mike Krantz revealed that the assailant gained entry by breaching locked doors using a firearm. Among the victims were three students aged 5, 8, and 11, and a teacher.

Details regarding the slain teacher were withheld by authorities. Another 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher sustained life-threatening injuries and were airlifted to a hospital in critical condition. The perpetrator allegedly procured a pump-action shotgun from his mother, according to a law enforcement source privy to the investigation, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing investigation's sensitivity.

Oregon law permits minors to possess shotguns when provided by a parent or under the consent of the parent. Police remained uncertain whether the shooter had any connection to the school or had attended it. The first 911 call was made from an external location, reporting gunshots emanating from the school premises. Additional 911 calls emanated from within the school, leading officers to the scene within minutes.

The shooter was reportedly neutralized shortly after officers' arrival, as stated by police spokesperson Sheila Miller. The school, catering to students from kindergarten through fifth grade, had an enrollment of approximately 450 pupils the previous year, as per the Oregon Department of Education. Students were transported by bus to a nearby church designated as a reunification center for families.

Parents embraced, kissed, and held their children's hands as they embarked on their journey home, some accompanied by cherished stuffed animals or other comfort items from home. Grief-stricken residents convened a vigil in the evening, where children etched hearts onto the sidewalk using chalk, intertwining their drawings with adults' candles.

Schools across Bend's 32 educational institutions canceled classes and extracurricular activities on Friday, honoring the victims. Bend, the largest city in central Oregon, lies roughly 125 miles southeast of Portland. It has witnessed a surge in population over the past three decades and serves as a prominent hub for tourism and outdoor recreation.

This incident marks the 28th mass killing in the United States this year, according to a database compiled by The Associated Press and USA Today in collaboration with Northeastern University. Notably, four years prior, in Bend, an employee at a grocery store who had served in the U.S. Army confronted a gunman engaged in a shooting spree inside the supermarket.

Both the hero employee and a customer met their demise, with the assailant succumbing to a self-inflicted gunshot wound.