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John J Griffin, 16-year-old Bend, Oregon school shooting suspect, used mother's gun to kill 4

16-year-old John J. Griffin of Bend, Oregon, was identified as the suspect in Thursday’s Silver Rail Elementary School shooting that killed four.

Updated on: Oct 16, 2026, 22:42:45 IST
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John J Griffin, a 16-year-old from Bend, Oregon, was identified as the suspect in Thursday's shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School that killed four and critically injured two

Flowers are placed beside a sign at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon on Friday, Oct. 16. (AP Photo/Haven Daley)
Flowers are placed beside a sign at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon on Friday, Oct. 16. (AP Photo/Haven Daley)

John J. Griffin, who was shot dead by a bystander, was identified by NBC News citing three senior law enforcement officials briefed on the matter. Per NBC, the shotgun that Griffin used for the shooting was purchased by his mother around the 16-year-old's birthday in August this year.

John J. Griffin's link to Silver Rail Elementary school is unclear as the investigation into the shooting continues. Griffin used a pump-action shotgun and opened fire around 12:30pm PDT Thursday. Three children - a five-year-old, an eight-year-old and an 11-year-old were killed. A seven-year-old student and a teacher were critically injured.

The bystander who fatally shot John J. Griffin was identified as Kaylub Giamanco. Giamanco, a carpenter with two daughters who attend Silver Rail Elementary School. His identity was confirmed by his brother, Kyle Giamanco, to NBC News.

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How John J. Griffin Carried Out The Attack

John J. Griffin arrived at the school around 12:30pm PDT Thursday. Before entering the school compound, he fired at a truck outside the school that was left with "about seven or eight gunshot holes," according to an eyewitness who spoke to NBC News.

Griffin then shot the locked school door and opened it. He entered the school and started firing, killing three and injuring four.

The first 911 call was made around 1pm PDT, Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said. When the police officers arrived, the 16-year-old suspect was found dead inside the school.

“Hero” bystander Kaylub Giamanco's brother said that he was carrying a concealed weapon and decided to follow Griffin inside.

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One of the victims killed was identified as 5-year-old Rhoam Summer. Kelik Summer, the mother of Rhoam, put out a statement on Facebook describing Thursday's shooting as "the worst day of my life."

"My son Rhoam was killed in a school shooting," she wrote. "We are broken and lost but are surrounded by friends and family who are keeping us safe."

The identities of the other three deceased victims are not known yet. The two injured victims are critical and are being treated.

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  • Shamik Banerjee
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Shamik Banerjee

    Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More

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