Bend Police Detail Silver Rail Elementary Shooting, Identify Victims and Shooter
Police say the 16-year-old gunman opened fire inside a special education classroom before a teacher tackled him and a parent entered the school and fatally shot him; two survivors remain hospitalized.
AT A GLANCE
Killed: Rhoam Summer, 5; two additional children, ages 8 and 11; and teacher Megan Lambert, 25
Injured: 7-year-old girl in serious but stable condition at OHSU; teacher Becky Drury, 54, with serious but non-life-threatening injuries at St. Charles Bend
Suspect: Griffin J. John II, 16, of Bend
Weapon: Maverick 88 pump-action 12-gauge shotgun
Shots: Police say the suspect fired as many as 15 rounds during the attack
Ammunition: Birdshot, buckshot, and slugs; approximately 44 additional rounds recovered
Classroom: Special education classroom with students of different ages
Intervention: Teacher physically fought the shooter; 36-year-old father entered the school and fatally shot him
Motive: Unknown and under investigation
Investigation: Silver Rail expected to remain an active crime scene until at least Tuesday
Police request: Residents and businesses asked to review video recorded between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thursday
BEND, Ore. — A clearer picture emerged Friday of how a 16-year-old armed with a shotgun entered Silver Rail Elementary School, opened fire inside a special education classroom, and was stopped after both a teacher and a parent confronted him.
Bend Police also publicly identified two of those killed in Thursday’s shooting: 5-year-old Rhoam Summer and 25-year-old teacher Megan Lambert.
The other two children killed, ages 8 and 11, have not been identified at their families’ request.
A 7-year-old girl remains hospitalized at OHSU in Portland in serious but stable condition. Bend Police also identified the surviving teacher injured in the shooting as 54-year-old Becky Drury of Bend. Police said Drury suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries and remains at St. Charles Bend.
Investigators identified the shooter as 16-year-old Griffin J. John II, a Bend resident who previously attended Silver Rail Elementary but was not currently enrolled in Bend-La Pine Schools.
Police have not determined a motive or explained how John obtained the shotgun and ammunition used in the attack.
“Our goal is to share vetted information that we can stand behind and be sure of, and not to speculate,” Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said during Friday’s media briefing.
Griffin J. John II: Bend Police identified 16-year-old Griffin J. John II as the shooter in Thursday’s attack at Silver Rail Elementary. Police said John previously attended Silver Rail but was not currently enrolled in Bend-La Pine Schools.
ATTACK BEGAN OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL
Police say the first moments of the attack began shortly before 1 p.m. Thursday near Brentwood Avenue.
At approximately 12:58 p.m., John approached the fenced rear of the Silver Rail property from an undeveloped area near Nina Avenue. Investigators say he crossed the street, threw his weapon over the fence, and climbed onto school property.
A driver in a red Toyota pickup saw what was happening and verbally confronted him.
John fired at the truck, striking it at least three times, according to police. The driver was not injured and continued down the street before making the initial 911 call.
Shooting Timeline Map: A Bend Police map shows key locations in the attack at Silver Rail Elementary: the undeveloped lot where the shooter approached the school, the parking lot where a parent stopped his vehicle, and the doors where the shooter forced entry into the building. Bend Police Department.
Another driver, a 36-year-old father whose children attend Silver Rail, also witnessed the shooting.
Police say the father drove into the school parking lot as John walked west along the south side of the building.
John then fired multiple rounds through the glass panes of a locked set of exterior double doors and entered the school. He went directly into the classroom immediately inside and to the left of those doors.
Police said Friday that it was a special education classroom with students of different ages.
John had previously been a special needs student at Silver Rail, according to Bend-La Pine Schools, but officials said they cannot confirm that he had ever been a student in that particular classroom.
Investigators have not identified a motive and have not said the classroom was selected because it served special education students.
Police say John fired as many as 15 rounds overall, though the exact number fired inside the classroom remains under investigation. All of the shooting victims were struck inside that classroom.
Investigators said three types of 12-gauge ammunition were used: birdshot, buckshot, and slugs.
Becky Drury: Bend Police identified 54-year-old teacher Becky Drury as one of two survivors hospitalized after the Silver Rail Elementary shooting. Police said she suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Photo provided by the Drury family/Bend Police Department.
A TEACHER FOUGHT BACK
Police revealed Friday that a teacher inside the classroom physically confronted John during the shooting. The teacher threw her cellphone at him, tackled him, and fought to take the shotgun away.
She was not injured.
The teacher was separate from Lambert, who was killed, and Drury, who was injured.
Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steve Cook thanked the teacher publicly Friday.
“I believe your actions saved lives,” Cook said.
Police Chief Krantz described the teacher’s actions and those of the parent who entered the school as acts of extraordinary courage.
“I don’t think we can underestimate or underappreciate that courage,” Krantz said.
PARENT ENTERED SCHOOL AND SHOT SUSPECT
The 36-year-old father who had witnessed the initial gunfire parked at Silver Rail and retrieved a .40-caliber pistol that police say had been legally secured inside his vehicle.
He entered the school through the doors John had already forced open.
Police say he heard gunfire and saw the teacher engaged in a physical struggle with John. The father entered the classroom and fired his handgun, striking John multiple times. By the time responding officers entered the classroom, the teenager was dead.
Bend Police said Friday that the community member has asked that his identity not be released. Police declined to identify him during Friday’s briefing because he had not authorized the department to release his name. Jefferson Daily News is honoring that request.
Police said there were no other students in the classroom beyond the victims and that the shooting had already occurred by the time the community member engaged the suspect.
“The quick thinking to observe, to then park and follow someone into the school is incredible, and undoubtedly saves people,” Krantz said.
President Donald Trump also praised the community member Friday for intervening in the shooting.
“A great hero, and it could have been as bad as it was, but we had a great hero that went in and did the business. He took care of business. And thank God we had him, otherwise it would have been much worse. It's a terrible thing, but thank goodness for a man that had a gun and knew how to use it,” Trump said.
Rhoam Summer: Five-year-old Rhoam Summer was one of three children killed in the Silver Rail Elementary shooting. His family authorized Bend Police to identify him and release his photograph. Photo provided by the Summer family/Bend Police Department.
FIVE DEAD, TWO SURVIVORS HOSPITALIZED
Five people died at the school, including John.
The victims killed were three children, ages 5, 8, and 11, and 25-year-old teacher Megan Lambert.
Officers and emergency medical personnel attempted lifesaving measures on one of the boys. Two other children and Lambert were already dead when officers arrived, according to Bend Police.
The family of 5-year-old Rhoam Summer authorized police to publicly identify him and release his photograph Friday.
The families of the 8- and 11-year-old victims have asked that their identities remain private.
The injured 7-year-old girl received lifesaving care at the school before being transported. She is now receiving treatment at OHSU and was listed Friday in serious but stable condition.
Drury, the 54-year-old teacher injured in the classroom, suffered serious injuries that police said are not considered life-threatening. Her family authorized Bend Police to identify her Friday afternoon.
Megan Lambert: Megan Lambert, 25, was the teacher killed in the Silver Rail Elementary shooting. Her family described the Bend native and volleyball coach as compassionate, devoted to students, and someone who “lit up the room.” Photo provided by the Lambert family/Bend Police Department.
REMEMBERING MEGAN LAMBERT
Lambert’s family provided Bend Police with a statement describing the 25-year-old teacher as a native Central Oregonian who grew up in Bend and had achieved her goal of returning home to teach.
Lambert grew up in Bend and graduated from Mountain View High School in 2019 before graduating from Boise State University in May 2023. She later spent time in Barcelona, Spain, with TEFL Iberia.
Silver Rail was Lambert’s first job as a teacher, her family said, although she had previously worked there as a substitute through High Desert Education Service District.
Her family said teaching at Silver Rail was her dream job.
“Megan was compassionate and had a huge heart,” her family said. “She always fought for the underdog and those with special needs.”
Lambert was also an avid volleyball player and coach. Her family said she declined pay during her first season coaching so children whose families could not afford to participate would still have an opportunity to play.
“She was funny and opinionated, and she lit up the room,” the family said.
The family also thanked the community member who confronted the shooter.
“We are grateful and we think he is a hero,” the statement said. “You selflessly put yourself at risk for others.”
Friday Police Briefing: Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz pauses at the podium during Friday’s media briefing on the Silver Rail Elementary shooting, where investigators released new details about the attack, the victims, and the ongoing investigation. Eli Imadali / OPB.
SHOTGUN, AMMUNITION RECOVERED
Police recovered a Maverick 88 pump-action 12-gauge shotgun near John’s body along with a backpack.
Investigators said he still had approximately 44 rounds of 12-gauge ammunition either on his person or inside the backpack.
How the 16-year-old obtained the firearm and ammunition remains under investigation.
Police executed a search warrant at his home and continue conducting interviews and reviewing evidence.
Krantz said Friday that investigators are still trying to determine why the shooting occurred.
“That is the answer we’re seeking as well,” Krantz said.
Police have not publicly identified any warning signs, and officials cautioned against drawing conclusions while the investigation remains open.
Officials also said Friday they had no information supporting reports that John attempted to enter nearby Caldera High School before going to Silver Rail.
SCHOOL SECURITY WILL BE REVIEWED
Silver Rail had conducted a lockdown drill approximately two weeks before the shooting, according to Bend-La Pine Schools.
Four school resource officers were present for that drill.
According to Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steve Cook, the district conducts lockdown drills twice each year at every school and has invested in secure entrances, fencing, cameras, and classroom door locks that can be checked and secured without teachers leaving their classrooms.
The school resource officer who covers Silver Rail was not on campus when Thursday’s shooting occurred. Officials said the officer covers six or seven schools and was at another nearby school at the time.
Cook said the district will conduct a detailed review of its emergency procedures and security planning once law enforcement completes its work at Silver Rail.
“We will take a hard look at everything that we have done, and what more needs to be done,” Cook said.
Police said investigators do not expect to relinquish the Silver Rail crime scene until at least Tuesday.
A digital scan of the school has been completed, investigators returned for another walkthrough Friday morning, and evidence collection remains underway.
Roughly 150 law enforcement officers and first responders have participated in the investigation.
POLICE SEEK ADDITIONAL VIDEO
Investigators are asking residents and businesses to check cameras for possible footage of John before the shooting.
Police are particularly interested in video recorded between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thursday in the area between Third Street and Brosterhous Road and around Silver Rail Elementary.
John was described as approximately 6 feet tall and 140 pounds, wearing black pants, a black T-shirt, and a black backpack.
Bend Police has established an online evidence portal for people with relevant footage.
The FBI has also established a tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI and an online page dedicated to the Silver Rail investigation.
Candlelight Vigil: Community members hold candles during a vigil in Bend following the shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School. Thousands gathered Thursday evening to mourn those killed and support the families, students, and school staff affected by the tragedy. Eli Imadali / OPB.
BEND COMMUNITY GATHERS TO GRIEVE
Thousands of people gathered at Drake Park in Bend Thursday evening for a vigil following the shooting, coming together to remember those killed and support the students, families, educators, and others affected by the tragedy.
“There are simply no words for the loss that we have suffered today,” Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler said at the vigil.
Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz also reflected Friday on the community response, saying thousands of people had gathered at Drake Park the previous evening.
“Some of you brought food, some of you brought questions, and some of you just came to be close to other people sharing the same grief,” Krantz said. “That is what our community looks like.”
Community Memorial: Community members embrace near a memorial outside Silver Rail Elementary in Bend on Friday, one day after the shooting that killed three children and a teacher. Eli Imadali / OPB.
SUPPORT AVAILABLE ACROSS BEND
Close to 200 individuals and families received crisis support at the Bend Central Library on Friday, according to Deschutes County Health Services.
Additional support is available at Larkspur Community Center from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday, and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday.
The services are free and open to students, families, school employees, first responders, and other members of the community.
The Deschutes County Stabilization Center and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline are also available around the clock.
Bend-La Pine Schools said planning for Silver Rail students in the coming weeks remains underway.
FUNDRAISERS BEGIN FOR FAMILIES
Fundraising efforts have also begun for families affected by the shooting.
A GoFundMe titled “Support Family of Injured Silver Rail Child” has been established to assist the family of the 7-year-old girl hospitalized at OHSU with travel, lodging, meals, medical costs, and other expenses associated with her recovery.
Several fundraising campaigns related to the Silver Rail shooting have appeared online, including campaigns claiming to support victims, families, and others affected by the tragedy.
Readers should use caution before donating. Verify who organized the fundraiser, how the organizer is connected to the person or family named, and whether the intended beneficiary has acknowledged or authorized the campaign. Be especially cautious of newly created pages, unclear organizers, duplicate campaigns, or appeals circulating only through social media.
Jefferson Daily News will only link to fundraisers when there is enough information to reasonably connect the campaign to those it claims to support, but readers should still conduct their own due diligence before contributing.
Because Bend Police says the community member who stopped the shooter has not authorized release of his identity, Jefferson Daily News is not linking to fundraising pages that identify him at this time.
FUNDRAISING DISCLAIMER:
Jefferson Daily News is not affiliated with, organizing, administering, or receiving proceeds from any fundraising campaign mentioned in this article. Fundraiser links are provided for informational purposes only.
Jefferson Daily News does not control how donated funds are collected, managed, distributed, or ultimately used and cannot guarantee the accuracy of every claim made by a third-party fundraising campaign. Readers should independently review the organizer, beneficiary, campaign details, and platform protections before making a contribution.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Jefferson Daily News extends our heartfelt sympathy to the families of those who were killed, those who were injured, the students and staff of Silver Rail Elementary, and everyone in the Bend community affected by this tragedy. We also recognize the lasting impact an event like this can have on families, first responders, educators, and neighbors. Our thoughts are with all those carrying the weight of what happened. 💙 ~Brian Gailey.
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