In a tragic turn of events at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, a 16-year-old opened fire last week, resulting in the deaths of three children and a teacher. The gun used, a Maverick 88 pump-action 12-gauge shotgun, was a birthday gift from the shooter’s mother, Shauntai Nickerson. Nickerson legally purchased the weapon in August 2026, intending it for recreational purposes for her son, Griffin J. John II.
Back in 2020, Nickerson mentioned in a local TV interview that her son faced challenges with remote learning due to his special needs during the pandemic. She expressed hope at that time for her son to receive necessary support from skilled teachers upon returning to school.
The incident began when the shooter fired at a passing pickup truck, prompting the driver to call 911. The shooter then forced entry into the school by shooting through glass doors. Inside the school, he entered the first classroom on the left and fatally shot four victims, wounding two others. Police identified the children who were killed as ages 5, 8, and 11, while the slain teacher was 25-year-old Megan Lambert. The only named child victim was 5-year-old Rhoam Summer. A 7-year-old girl and a 54-year-old teacher are among the injured, according to police.
In total, there were nine people—four adults and five children—in the classroom during the attack. A brave bystander, 36-year-old Kaylub Giamanco, intervened and fatally shot the attacker. Giamanco, a resident of Bend with two daughters enrolled at Silver Rail Elementary, witnessed the shooting from the truck and pursued the assailant into the school.
Authorities revealed that the shooter was a former student of the school. However, no motive has yet been determined. The Bend Police Department announced on Monday that the investigation of the school premises would conclude by the day’s end, with control of the building returning to the school district afterward. Investigators are examining the suspect’s digital footprint, including his computer, phone, and social media activity.
Anna Schecter, Faris Tanyos, and Kerry Breen contributed to the coverage of this incident.