Here in the United States of America, we have ongoing problem of school shootings. This is unfortunately nothing new as there is a disgustingly long list of them. Our constitution has an amendment that protects gun rights. Passionate debates have been had about what that amendment covers or does not cover. I’m certainly not trying to insert my opinion into this discussion with this post, but I wanted to talk about something else, beyond the obvious loss of life or injured victims from these shootings.
During our most recent shooting at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, Oregon on October 15, 2026, three students were fatally shot along with one teacher.
Obviously, losing these kids and an educator is tragic beyond words. A school should be a place for learning, fun, friendship, etc. certainly not a place for this level of violence. Parents and families should be able to send their little ones to school without the fear of never seeing them again because of a shooting.
What I have said above is what our society says after a school shooting plus the sprinkling in of thoughts and prayers. We also discussed what made the shooter do it. We talk about how they were eventually stopped by a civilian, law enforcement or by a self-inflicted wound.
I’d like to focus on something a bit different, the aftermath to the person(s) who stop the shooting.
When the shooting was unfolding a man named Kaylub Giamanco was conveniently passing by when he saw the shooter entering the campus. He went to his vehicle to retrieve his licensed weapon and moved towards the school. He is the man who fired the fatal shots that stopped the sixteen-year-old shooter.
He is a hero in any definition of the word. His actions saved lives, period.
Giamanco is a thirty-six-year-old father who had kids in that school. I can’t even begin to relate to the fear and concern he must have had about his kid’s safety at that time let alone the rest of the students or the faculty.
What isn’t being talked about is how he is handling the entire situation. This is a man and a father who took the life of another kid, justified or not. That is a decision that he will play repeatedly in his head for the rest of his life. That is a weight that he may never be able to get rid or process completely. He talks about how hard this has been for him during an interview, a link to that interview is here: https://www.opb.org/article/2026/10/23/bend-oregon-kaylub-giamanco-silver-rail-elementary-school-shooting/
Since this is a blog about becoming better men, please do yourselves a favor and read what he says, listen to the words and the tone in his voice. Hear his remorse for not saving the souls that were lost and for the life that he took. See what he is experiencing when he closes his eyes at night trying to get some sleep.
We can all see how he was a hero, but we can also acknowledge the long-term pain that he will have to endure because of that day.
As men, we are expected to suck it up and not talk about what he is sharing during this interview and I think what he is sharing is so powerful. He is expressing raw emotion that may very well overwhelm many men. Vulnerability is difficult for so many of us, but it has power that cannot be dismissed.
While we praise him, let’s not forget the aftermath of this incident. He didn’t sign up for these potential interactions like a police officer knows they could see in the line of duty. His mental health has and will continue to be tested as time goes on.
I hope that Mr. Giamanco and his family can eventually come to terms with what happened that day and are able to return to some kind of regular life. He is a hero for his bravery and courage even if he is disappointed that he couldn’t save everyone.
