Bend, Oregon, School District Mourns Tragic Loss After Shooting

BEND, Ore. — The school district in Oregon is reeling from the loss of three young students and a teacher due to a mass shooting that occurred this week. On Saturday, they expressed their deep sorrow, highlighting the bravery exhibited by the educator and staff member who put their lives on the line during the incident.

“Our hearts are broken,” the Bend-La Pine Schools district shared on social media, reflecting on the tragic event. “They responded to an attack on their school in a way for which we are forever grateful.”

One of the victims, Megan Lambert, only 25 years old, was a special education teacher at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend. She had just started her first teaching position this fall.

The school district remembered her as a beacon of light for her “students, family, and our community,” saying, “She will be missed beyond words can express.”

They also offered praise to Becky Drury, an inclusion educational assistant who was injured during the attack and is currently on the road to recovery. “We continue to wrap our arms around Becky Drury,” they stated, expressing gratitude toward another learning specialist who bravely confronted the shooter directly.

The heartbreaking event has left the community of Bend, located about 170 miles south of Portland, in shock. On Saturday, residents gathered near the school to grieve the loss of Lambert and the three children killed: a 5-year-old named Rhoam Summer, along with two others aged 8 and 11, whose families have requested privacy concerning their names.

A 7-year-old girl and Drury both sustained injuries but are recovering, according to police reports. At a makeshift memorial outside Silver Rail Elementary, mourners have left flowers, prayers, and chalk messages in support of the victims and their families.

Community members have also expressed admiration for Kaylub Giamanco, 36, a father of two students at Silver Rail. Giamanco was on his lunch break when he witnessed the teenage shooter enter the building with a shotgun. He quickly fetched a legally owned gun from his car and pursued the assailant, eventually fatally shooting him.

Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz acknowledged the swift actions of both civilians and staff, particularly an unnamed teacher who confronted the shooter by throwing a cellphone and tackling him.

“The teacher… was willing to stand and fight for her children,” Krantz remarked on Friday. “I think we all recognize that that is true heroism. She almost certainly helped avoid more bloodshed.”