Oregon Father Who Killed School Gunman Breaks Silence on Deadly Encounter
A father who stormed into his daughters’ elementary school and fatally shot a teenage gunman during a deadly attack has spoken publicly about the terrifying encounter.
Kaylub Giamanco, 36, became widely celebrated after confronting the 16-year-old attacker at Silver Rail Elementary School, where his daughters, aged five and 10, were pupils.
The October 15 shooting claimed the lives of three children, aged five, eight and 11, alongside a 25-year-old teacher, before Giamanco intervened.
Speaking with CBS News, Giamanco recalled driving home for lunch when he noticed an armed teenager breaking into the school.
He immediately contacted emergency services but decided that waiting for police could cost more lives, prompting him to enter the building himself.
Describing his reaction, he said his instincts took over as he assessed the unfolding danger and rushed towards the school.
Inside, he approached a classroom and looked through its window, where he spotted a teacher struggling with the armed teenager.
He recalled seeing the teacher throw her mobile phone at the attacker, creating a brief distraction that gave him an opportunity to enter.
Giamanco said he fired once, forcing the teenager to drop his weapon. However, the attacker reportedly attempted to regain control before another shot.
Recounting their final exchange, the father said the teenager appeared ready to speak, but he had no interest in hearing anything.
“I said, ‘F*** you,’” he told CBS News, explaining that his immediate concern was the innocent children whose lives had been taken.
Giamanco said he could not stop thinking about the young victims, particularly their ages, describing them as innocent children.
His two daughters survived the attack, which left families and the surrounding community mourning the victims and struggling with its aftermath.
Authorities and members of his family subsequently praised his intervention, with officials indicating that his actions may have prevented further casualties.
An earlier recording of his emergency call also revealed how he decided to enter the school after hearing the gunshots.
Following the confrontation, Giamanco contacted his wife and mother to explain what had happened during the terrifying incident.
His mother later recalled receiving the shocking news that her son had shot and killed an armed attacker at his daughters’ school.
She told CBS News that she reassured him, describing his actions as heroic and expressing pride in his decision to protect the children.
However, the father has admitted that the experience continues to affect him emotionally, despite the widespread recognition he has received.
He disclosed that he has struggled to return to his carpentry job and remains haunted by the children’s desperate screams.
Giamanco explained that the memories become particularly difficult at night, sometimes preventing him from sleeping as he relives those frightening moments.
His account highlights the lasting psychological consequences of confronting extreme violence, even for someone whose intervention helped save other people’s lives.
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