Sacramento Mother Hails Son as Hero After He Fatally Shoots Oregon School Gunman
A Sacramento man is being called a hero for stopping a deadly school shooting in Bend, Oregon. Learn the details of the confrontation that saved lives.
POLICY WIRE — Sacramento, California — A Sacramento mother is speaking out about her son’s instinctive actions during a tragic school shooting in Oregon that claimed the lives of three children and one teacher.
The armed bystander, 36-year-old Kaylub Giamanco, was identified as the individual who pursued a 16-year-old gunman into Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday. Giamanco, a father of two who has children enrolled at the school, was heading home for lunch when he spotted the suspect on campus.
According to his mother, Kenda Freeman, Giamanco pulled his vehicle onto the grass and followed the shooter into the building. She recounted that her son entered the school by crawling through a window that the gunman had previously shattered.
Police officials noted on Friday that the teenage suspect appeared to be targeting a classroom of children with special needs. In addition to the four fatalities, another child and a teacher were wounded and remained hospitalized as of Friday.
Freeman, who resides in the Sacramento area, stated that her son has lived in Oregon for over 30 years and is a contractor familiar with firearms. She confirmed that Giamanco legally owns and carries his weapon for the purpose of protecting his family.
Following the incident, Giamanco contacted his mother to describe the confrontation. He told her that he looked the gunman point-blank in the eye before firing the shots that ended the threat. While Giamanco’s actions have received praise from Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and the local community, Freeman noted that her son is struggling with the trauma of the event.
Freeman shared that her son is grappling with the fact that he could not save everyone, constantly questioning if he could have acted differently. Despite the emotional toll, she expressed pride in his bravery, telling him he did what was necessary to save lives.
While the shooting has reignited national conversations regarding gun control, Freeman emphasized that her family is focused on processing the tragedy. She urged others to cherish their loved ones, stating, Hug your babies, love your neighbors.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
