An Oregon teacher bravely confronted a teenage gunman inside an elementary school, throwing her mobile phone aside before tackling him and attempting to wrestle a shotgun from his hands. An armed father who witnessed the attack then rushed into the classroom and fatally shot the suspect, helping prevent further loss of life.

The deadly shooting occurred at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday around lunchtime. Three children and a teacher were killed in the attack, while two other people were injured.

The teacher reportedly struggled with the gunman on the classroom floor as he continued his assault on a special educational needs class. During the confrontation, a bystander who was driving past the school saw the violence unfold and entered the building armed with a pistol.

Police said the armed man fired at the suspect multiple times, killing the 16-year-old and bringing the attack to an end.

Authorities later revealed that the teenager had previously attended the school. Investigators also said he was carrying approximately 44 additional rounds of shotgun ammunition when he was stopped. The suspect is believed to have fired as many as 15 rounds inside the classroom.

Teacher and Armed Father Credited With Saving Lives

Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz praised the teacher and the armed bystander for their actions during the shooting, crediting their intervention with preventing further bloodshed.

The teacher, who was not injured in the confrontation, played a critical role in attempting to disarm the gunman. Police indicated that her actions almost certainly helped prevent additional casualties.

The armed bystander, identified by his family to US media as 36-year-old Kaylub Giamanco, was driving home after lunch when he encountered the unfolding attack.

According to his brother, who spoke to NBC News, Giamanco saw the suspect fire at a vehicle outside the school before shooting through a window to enter the building.

Giamanco, a carpenter and father of two girls who attended the school, reportedly retrieved his legally concealed .40-calibre pistol from his vehicle before going inside to confront the shooter.

Police confirmed that he fired multiple shots at the suspect, killing him.

Authorities have not officially confirmed Giamanco's identity, although members of his family have publicly identified him as the man who intervened.

Four Victims Killed in Oregon School Shooting

Police identified two of the four people killed during Friday's news conference.

The victims included five-year-old Rhoam Summer and 25-year-old teacher Meghan Lambert.

The families of the other two children, aged eight and 11, requested that their names not be released publicly, according to police.

Two additional victims survived the shooting but sustained injuries. A 54-year-old teacher remained in hospital receiving treatment, while a seven-year-old student was reported to be in serious but stable condition.

The attack has left families and the wider school community mourning the victims as investigators continue to establish how the shooting unfolded.

Father's Mother Says He Was Traumatised by the Attack

Giamanco's mother, Kenda Freeman, who lives in Sacramento, California, told a local CBS television station that her son called her shortly after the incident.

Freeman described her son as deeply traumatised by what he had witnessed and experienced inside the school.

She said he had told her that a man had entered his daughter's school and shot children. He also described confronting the suspect at close range and shooting him.

Freeman said she reassured her son that his intervention had saved many lives. However, she also recounted his distress over the victims he had been unable to save.

Her account highlighted the emotional toll of the incident on the man who intervened, despite his actions being credited with helping stop the attack.

Police Investigate Suspect's Movements and Motive

Investigators identified the suspect as 16-year-old Griffin J John II, who had previously attended Silver Rail Elementary and was a special educational needs student at the school.

Police said a search warrant had been executed at the teenager's home and that the investigation remained ongoing.

Authorities believe the suspect travelled to the elementary school on foot, although his precise movements before the attack have not yet been established.

Investigators are also working to determine how he obtained the shotgun and what motivated the shooting. Police have not publicly established a motive.

The discovery of additional ammunition on the suspect has raised further questions about the scale of the attack and whether he intended to continue shooting had he not been confronted.

Trump and Oregon Governor Praise Those Who Intervened

US President Donald Trump praised the armed bystander on Friday, describing his intervention as heroic and saying the situation could have been significantly worse without his actions.

Trump made the remarks at the White House before departing for Georgia, acknowledging the devastating nature of the shooting while highlighting the role played by the man who confronted the gunman.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek also recognised the bystander's actions in helping prevent further deaths. She noted, however, that intervening in such a violent situation can leave a lasting emotional burden on those involved.

Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack, including the suspect's access to the firearm, his movements before reaching the school and his possible motive.

As the investigation proceeds, the actions of the teacher who attempted to disarm the gunman and the father who entered the school to stop him remain central to accounts of how the deadly shooting was brought to an end.