Mother Defends Oregon School Shooter Who Used Weapon She Purchased

Authorities in Bend, Oregon, have identified the victims and the gunman involved in a fatal shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School on Thursday, October 15, 2026. The attack claimed the lives of four people, including three children and a teacher, before the shooter was killed by an armed bystander.

Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz identified the gunman as 16-year-old Griffin J. John II, a former student at the school. Investigators reported that John used a 12-gauge Maverick 88 pump-action shotgun during the attack. The gunman was confronted and killed at the scene by Kaylub Giamanco, a 36-year-old father and carpenter who witnessed the shooter entering the building and intervened before law enforcement arrived.

Authorities investigated the scene at Silver Rail Elementary following the October 15 attack.

The Mother’s Defense and Weapon Origins

Shauntai May Nickerson, the shooter’s mother, spoke to reporters outside her apartment following the incident. Despite the scale of the tragedy, Nickerson emotionally defended her son, describing him as a “good boy” and a “good kid.”

According to investigative reports, the shotgun used in the Silver Rail Elementary School shooting was purchased by Nickerson. While officials have not yet detailed the circumstances of how the 16-year-old obtained the firearm, the connection between the mother’s purchase and the weapon used in the attack remains a central part of the ongoing investigation.

Police confirmed that John fired approximately 15 rounds during the assault. When he was stopped by Giamanco, he still had 44 rounds of ammunition remaining.

Victims Identified

The victims of the shooting include three children, aged 5, 8, and 11, and one staff member. Among those killed was 25-year-old teacher Meghan Lambert, who was identified by officials as the educator lost in the attack. One of the youngest victims has been identified as 5-year-old student Rhoam Summer.

John was previously enrolled at Silver Rail Elementary as a special needs student. The school remained closed as the community began mourning the loss of the four victims.

The intervention by Giamanco, who reportedly held a concealed carry permit, is credited by local authorities with preventing further loss of life given the amount of ammunition the gunman still possessed at the time he was neutralized.

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