Symbolic imageBystander stops Oregon school shooting that killed three children and a teacher
A 16-year-old killed three children and a teacher at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday. An armed bystander shot the attacker dead.
Police identified the gunman on Friday as Griffin J John II, a former Silver Rail student. According to The Guardian, he climbed a fence, shot through locked doors and fired up to 15 rounds into a special education classroom, where all victims were. The dead are children aged five, eight and 11 and teacher Megan Lambert, 25; a seven-year-old and educator Becky Drury, 54, were injured. Police have named no motive, and AP reports the pump-action shotgun was bought by the suspect's mother.
The bystander
Police say Kaylub Giamanco, 36, a parent at the school, heard gunfire while driving past, followed the gunman inside with his licensed pistol and shot him during a scuffle with a teacher. His family says he seeks no recognition; Governor Tina Kotek praised the unnamed intervener as heroic.
The teacher's resistance
Police say a teacher threw a phone at the shooter and tackled him. Police chief Mike Krantz said this almost certainly helped prevent more bloodshed.
Other opinions
Telesur reports that police shot the suspect dead, while The Guardian, The National and Politika say an armed bystander did.