A 16-year-old boy opened fire at an elementary school in central Oregon, killing three children and a teacher before being shot dead by a man who intervened, authorities said.
Police identified the suspect as Griffin J. John II. Before entering Silver Rail Elementary School, he reportedly fired at a pickup truck outside. The driver, alarmed, called police immediately. The teenager then walked to the school, shot through its closed glass doors and went inside, where he entered a first-grade classroom and opened fire.
Nine people were in the room at the time. Three children and 25-year-old teacher Megan Lambert were killed. A 7-year-old girl and a 54-year-old teacher were wounded. A man identified as Giamanco then entered the classroom and shot the suspect dead.
Investigators tracing the weapon found that the suspect’s mother, Shante Nickerson, had reportedly bought it for him. According to initial information, she purchased a Maverick 88 pump-action 12-gauge shotgun in August as a birthday gift, at her son’s request. Police have not said what motivated the attack, and the investigation is continuing.