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Sacramento mother speaks out after son shoots, kills Oregon school shooter
A mother from Sacramento, California, is speaking publicly about her son’s actions during a deadly school shooting in Oregon, describing how he intervened after a teenage gunman opened fire at an elementary school attended by his own children.
Kenda Freeman said her son, 36-year-old Kaylub Giamanco, acted on instinct when he confronted the shooter at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend on October 15. The attack killed three children and a teacher, while another child and a second teacher were injured.
Freeman told CBS News Sacramento that her son was deeply affected by what happened, particularly by the fact that he could not prevent every death. While she praised his decision to intervene, she said he has been struggling with the emotional aftermath of the shooting.
Father of Two Students Intervenes During Attack
Giamanco, a Bend resident and father of two daughters who attend Silver Rail Elementary, was reportedly heading home during his lunch break when he encountered the unfolding emergency.
According to his mother, he recognized that something was wrong, stopped his vehicle and followed the armed teenager into the school. He entered through a window the gunman had shot out and confronted him inside the building.
Police said the shooting ended when Giamanco fatally shot the attacker before officers arrived. Authorities later identified the suspected gunman as 16-year-old Griffin J. John II, a former student of the school.
Giamanco’s intervention brought the attack to an end, but the shooting had already claimed the lives of four people. Both of his daughters survived.
‘Mom, I Just Shot and Killed Somebody’
Freeman said her son called her shortly after the confrontation and told her what had happened.
She recalled him explaining that a gunman had entered his daughter’s school and shot children before he confronted him. The call left her trying to process the gravity of what her son had experienced.
Freeman described Giamanco as someone who cares deeply about his family and community. She said he was familiar with firearms and legally owned and carried his weapon.
In the aftermath, she reassured him that she was proud of him for acting to protect others. But she also revealed that he was having difficulty accepting that he could not save everyone.
“He said, ‘Mom, I couldn’t save them all,’” Freeman recalled.
She said the experience had left him traumatized, with troubling memories and questions about what he might have done differently. Her comments offered a glimpse into the emotional burden faced by people who intervene during violent emergencies.
Four People Killed in Oregon Elementary School Shooting
The shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend left three children and a teacher dead. Another student and a second teacher were injured and taken for medical treatment.
Authorities identified the shooter as Griffin J. John II, 16. Police said investigators believed he had targeted a classroom of children with special needs, although the motive remained under investigation.
Investigators were also examining how the teenager obtained the shotgun used in the attack. Reports indicated that the weapon had been purchased by his mother.
The tragedy devastated families connected to the school and prompted renewed concern about the safety of students and staff. School officials and the wider Bend community began mourning those who died while supporting the injured and their loved ones.
A Mother Grieves for Every Family Affected
Although Freeman was grateful that her grandchildren survived, she said her relief was accompanied by sorrow for families whose children did not return home.
She spoke emotionally about the parents who lost their children and the lasting impact of the attack on the school community.
Her message extended beyond her own son’s role in stopping the gunman. Freeman urged people to appreciate their loved ones and show care for those around them.
“Hug your babies, love your neighbors,” she said.
Giamanco’s actions have drawn praise from community members and Oregon Governor Tina Kotek. His family, however, has asked for privacy as he and his loved ones process the events.
The investigation into the shooting continues, including questions about the attacker’s motive and access to the firearm. For Freeman and the families affected, the aftermath remains deeply painful, even as the community recognizes the efforts made to stop the violence.
Source: CBS News Sacramento
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