Bend, Ore. – On CBS Mornings yesterday, Kaylub Giamanco, the local father who stepped in during the Silver Rail Elementary School shooting, spoke candidly about the emotional toll the tragedy continues to exact on him.
Living with the memories
Giamanco described how the sounds of children’s screams and pleas for their lives replay in his mind long after the incident. “When I’m alone at night, I can’t always go to bed,” he said. “Sometimes I get trapped in my brain, hearing those cries over and over.”
He explained that the memory of the shooter’s desperate struggle for his weapon still haunts him. “He was trying to say something, and I didn’t want to hear it. He had taken lives,” Giamanco recalled, his voice shaking.
Raw reaction on national TV
When host Gayle King asked what he said to the shooter in that moment, Giamanco answered without hesitation, “I said f*** you.” The blunt response underscored the raw anger and grief he still feels.
Community response and school reopening
The interview offered a stark reminder of the lasting impact of school violence on families and first responders. Local officials and community members have rallied around the victims, providing counseling services and support networks for those affected.
Silver Rail Elementary is slated to reopen its doors to students and staff this Thursday, a step that many see as a sign of resilience and hope for the community.
Looking forward
Giamanco emphasized his commitment to sharing his story, not for personal attention, but to honor the children and families whose lives were forever altered. He hopes that his openness will encourage others who have survived trauma to seek help and speak out.
“We must keep their memory alive,” he said. “And we must keep fighting for safety in our schools.”
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
