BEND, OR. — A disturbing new report is shedding light on Thursday’s deadly shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, including allegations that the 16-year-old gunman deliberately returned to a classroom where he had once received special education services.
According to a report published Friday by the New York Post, law enforcement sources say John J. Griffin II specifically sought out his former classroom during the October 15 attack that left three children and one teacher dead. The newspaper reported that Griffin entered the school and “headed straight for his former special-needs classroom” before opening fire. One of those wounded was in a wheelchair.
The claim represents a significant development in the investigation, although Bend police have not publicly confirmed that the classroom was deliberately targeted or announced a motive for the shooting.
New Details Emerge About How the Suspect Entered the School
The New York Post reports that Griffin arrived at Silver Rail Elementary shortly before 1 p.m. carrying a Maverick 88, a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun. According to the newspaper’s law enforcement sources, he tossed the weapon over a fence surrounding the school grounds before climbing over himself.
The report states that Griffin initially attempted to enter through the front of the building but encountered resistance from bystanders, including an armed father, now identified as Kaylub Giamanco, 36, whose children attended the school. After that confrontation, the teenager reportedly moved to a rear entrance, where he used the shotgun to force his way through a locked door.
These details expand upon information released by Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz, who confirmed Thursday that a witness outside the school had been fired upon before the suspect entered the building. The initial emergency call was received at approximately 12:59 p.m., with officers responding to reports of gunfire inside the school moments later.
Three children, ages 5, 8 and 11, and a teacher were killed. A seven-year-old student and a 54-year-old teacher were also critically injured and transported to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend. The shooting ended when Giamanco pursued the suspect into the building and fatally shot him.
Suspect’s Mother Speaks Publicly
Additional details about Griffin’s background were published Friday by The Times of London, in reporting by journalists Josie Ensor and Keiran Southern.
The Times identified the teenager’s mother as Shauntai May Nickerson, who spoke briefly and emotionally with reporters outside her home. Expressing her grief and disbelief, Nickerson said, “If I could have prevented this, I would have. I’m sorry … I miss him.”
The newspaper reported that the firearm used in the shooting was a Maverick 88 12-gauge pump-action shotgun associated with Nickerson. Citing information provided to NBC, The Times stated that she reportedly purchased the weapon around the time of her son’s 16th birthday in August.
The Times also uncovered a 2020 interview Nickerson gave to Bend television station NewsChannel 21, when Griffin was approximately 10 years old. During that interview, she discussed the challenges of educating her son, who had special educational needs, amid COVID-19 school closures and expressed hope that he could return to the classroom.
That earlier interview establishes a documented history of special education needs, but it does not explain Thursday’s violence. There is currently no publicly confirmed evidence establishing why Griffin allegedly chose that classroom, and his educational history should not be interpreted as evidence of a motive.
A Community Searching for Answers
The shooting occurred on what was supposed to be school picture day, a detail that has made the tragedy particularly heartbreaking for families throughout Central Oregon. Instead of a day filled with classroom photographs and familiar school routines, parents found themselves rushing toward an emergency reunification site, desperately awaiting news of their children.
In the hours that followed, residents gathered to mourn at Silver Rail Elementary and at a candlelight vigil in Drake Park. Flowers, candles and stuffed animals have become part of a growing tribute to the children and educator whose lives were taken.
For families in Bend, many questions remain unanswered, particularly whether the suspect had planned to return to his former classroom and what might have motivated the attack.
Bend police have scheduled another public briefing for 2 p.m. Friday, October 16, when investigators are expected to provide further information about the shooting.
As investigators continue piecing together what happened inside Silver Rail Elementary, the community remains focused on the families who have lost loved ones, the two surviving victims and the children and educators facing the aftermath of an unimaginable tragedy.
This is a developing story. That Oregon Life will update this report as additional information is confirmed.
Reporting sources: New York Post, October 16; The Times, October 16; Bend Police Department official releases.
