The 16-year-old suspect reportedly received a shotgun from his mother as a birthday gift before the deadly attack at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon
Four people, including three children and a teacher, were killed in a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, on October 15, 2026. Reports say the 16-year-old suspect received the shotgun used in the attack as a birthday gift from his mother. Investigators are examining the shooting and the circumstances surrounding the teenager’s access to the firearm.
Washington: Four people, including three children and a teacher, were killed when a 16-year-old boy opened fire at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, on October 15, 2026. The firearm used in the attack has come under scrutiny after reports that the teenager received it as a birthday gift from his mother.
The suspect, identified in reports as Griffin J. John II, was a former student at the school. According to sources cited by CBS News, his mother, Shauntai Nickerson, legally purchased a Maverick 88 pump-action 12-gauge shotgun in August 2026 and later gave it to him for recreational use.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The suspect’s motive has not been established publicly in the information available.
Mother Reportedly Gave Teen Shotgun as Birthday Gift
According to CBS News, law enforcement sources said Nickerson purchased the shotgun legally before giving it to her son as a birthday present.
The reported gift has raised questions about how the teenager obtained the firearm before the attack. However, the available reports do not establish that his mother knew he intended to use the weapon to harm anyone.
The circumstances surrounding the firearm’s purchase and transfer remain relevant to the wider investigation into the shooting.
Three Children and Teacher Killed in Classroom Attack
Police said the teenager first fired at a passing pickup truck before heading to Silver Rail Elementary School. The truck’s driver contacted emergency services, making the initial 911 call.
The suspect then entered the school by shooting through glass panes in locked entrance doors before going into a classroom and opening fire.
The victims were identified as five-year-old Rhoam Summer, two children aged eight and 11, and 25-year-old teacher Megan Lambert.
A seven-year-old girl and a 54-year-old teacher were also wounded in the attack. According to police, nine people, including four adults and five children, were inside the classroom when the shooting occurred.
Bystander Fatally Shot Teen Suspect
The teenager was fatally shot by Kaylub Giamanco, a 36-year-old Bend resident and father of two students at the school, according to reports.
Giamanco reportedly witnessed the suspect firing at the pickup truck and followed him into the school. Police said a teacher was also attempting to wrest control of the weapon from the teenager when the bystander intervened.
The intervention brought the attack to an end. Authorities have not publicly established a motive for the shooting in the information available.
Victim’s Family Seeks Answers About School Safety
The parents of one of the children killed in the attack have reportedly hired attorneys to examine the school’s safety protocols and the circumstances that allowed the teenager to bring a firearm into the school.
Their inquiry is expected to focus on questions about school security and the events leading up to the shooting. Police continue to investigate the attack, including the suspect’s motive and access to the weapon.
The tragedy has renewed attention on firearm access and school safety, particularly when a young person obtains a gun before carrying out a deadly attack.
