He Spotted the Gunman, Grabbed His Weapon, and Saved Lives at Silver Rail Elementary — Now His Mom Speaks Out About What Still Haunts Her Son
The father who followed a gunman into his children’s school later called his mother, and even her fiercest reassurance could not quiet what was tormenting him.
Kaylub Giamanco was heading home for lunch on Thursday, October 15, 2026, when he encountered the attack at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon.
Now his mother, Kenda Freeman, is sharing how the attacker unwittingly helped her son reach a classroom where a teacher was fighting for the children, and the painful confession that the hero made after it was all over.
Kaylub Giamanco, pictured during an outdoor trip, was heading home for lunch on October 15, 2026, when he noticed commotion near Silver Rail Elementary School. The 36-year-old contractor and longtime Oregon resident has two children who attend the school. Known by loved ones for his generous heart and deep dedication to his family and local community, Giamanco immediately turned toward danger after witnessing gunfire outside the building, prioritizing the safety of students and staff over his own. | Source: Facebook/Kaylub Giamanco
His Children Were at School When He Saw the Danger
A man outside in a red truck spotted the boy and shouted at him. The teenager responded by shooting at the truck at least three times, Bend Police Department Chief Mike Krantz said during a news conference the following day.
For Kaylub, Silver Rail was already a deeply personal place. His two children attended the school, and on that Thursday, the 36-year-old contractor was nearby when a teenager carrying a shotgun climbed over its chain-link fence.
