The tragic shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, claimed the lives of a dedicated educator and three children. The victims were inside a classroom focused on supporting students with special needs, a space intended to provide a secure and nurturing environment. The attack, which occurred during the school’s picture day on Thursday, has left a wide circle of survivors, families, and first responders grappling with profound trauma and grief. The dead and wounded aren’t the only victims. The pain, trauma and grief reach a much wider circle, including survivors, first responders, members of the community and parents and siblings left to share their loved ones memory, as is the case with mass shootings. Replaced by a somber and quiet aura, the joy and innocence that greeted students and teachers on their return to school in early September has been lost.
Among those killed was 25-year-old Megan Lambert, a teacher described by her family as a compassionate advocate with a “huge heart” who consistently supported those in need. A Bend native and Mountain View High School graduate, Lambert was performing what her family called her “dream job.” Beyond the classroom, she was known for her passion for sports, having once coached volleyball while refusing payment to assist families facing financial barriers. Those who knew her described the former substitute teacher as a vibrant, funny, and opinionated presence who genuinely lit up any room. Picture day at the school with more than 400 students, Megan Lambert — a teacher and fierce advocate with a “huge heart” who “always fought for the underdog and those with special needs” — died performing her “dream job,” according to her family, on Thursday morning. An Oregon native who grew up in Bend, graduated from Mountain View High School in 2019 and from Boise State in 2023, as “compassionate, they remembered Lambert. Who was passionate about sports, turned down pay her first season as a volleyball coach to help families who couldn’t afford to participate, they said, the 25-year-old. Lambert, who was a substitute at Silver Rail before becoming a full-time teacher, also traveled to Barcelona, Spain, to sharpen her skills teaching English as a second language. Her friend’s cries mixed with the sound of police car sirens before officers arrived and escorted students and staff out the building. Asked what went through her mind, Kalani said, “That we might die.”. “The kindness and concern shown to our family and everyone affected mean more than we can express.
The three students who lost their lives in the classroom included 5-year-old Rhoam Summer, whose family remembered him through a photo showing the young boy in a blue jacket. Two other students, aged 8 and 11, were also killed, with their names withheld at the request of their respective families. Kelik Summer, Rhoam’s father, expressed the family’s devastation in a social media message, stating they felt broken but grateful for the support of their community. “Today has been the worst day of my life,” Kelik Summer wrote in a Facebook post to a community he’s part of, referring to the death of his son. “We are broken and lost, but are surrounded by friends and family who are keeping us safe.”. Yvonne Drury wrote in Facebook post that “our wonderful daughter-in-law Becky” was recovering in a hospital after surgery. According to “We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support, prayers, and well-wishes,” the family, In the statement, which was released by Zack Hall, a family spokesperson.
The violence erupted around 1:00 p.m. Thursday when a 16-year-old former special needs student at the school, identified as Griffin J. John II, forced his way into the building by firing through glass doors. According to Police Chief Mike Krantz, the intruder proceeded directly to a classroom near the entrance and fired approximately 15 rounds. A teacher present in the room showed immense bravery by throwing a phone at the suspect and physically engaging him in an attempt to disarm him. A nearby parent, Kaylub Giamanco, who had witnessed the shooter firing at a man outside the building, intervened and shot the suspect, ending the threat. The latest tragedy in an American school occurred at about 1 p.m. Giamanco, carrying a legally secured 40-caliber pistol, followed the suspect, police said.
Survivors have shared harrowing accounts of the incident. Nine-year-old student Kalani Journeigh described the terror of hiding in an unfamiliar room for 30 minutes, struggling to breathe while sirens wailed outside. Another student reported hearing a classmate plead for the shooting to stop before silence fell over the room. Outside the school, a makeshift memorial featuring four crosses has emerged as a testament to the lives lost. “All of us were screaming and we were all like really scared,” 9-year-old Kalani Journeigh told Reuters. She recalled finding it hard to breathe. A 9-year-old boy, recalled the principal saying, “lockdown, lockdown,” as shots rang out, affiliate KGW reported, another student. He cowered in fear under a sink, for 30 minutes.
Two others were injured during the attack.
Becky Drury, a 54-year-old teacher, sustained significant damage to her left arm and right hand, requiring multiple surgeries. Her husband, Will Drury, confirmed she is stable and praised the kindness of the community as they focus on her long recovery process. Meanwhile, 7-year-old Saylor Graham received life-saving care at the scene and remains in serious but stable condition. Supporters have launched fundraising campaigns for Saylor, who is described as a resilient child. Matt Sampson of the nonprofit Sparrow Clubs highlighted her inspirational strength, noting that her recovery journey has touched many in the region. “Saylor is the definition of light and joy.
