An Oregon teacher threw her mobile phone and tackled a teenager who opened fire on a special educational needs class at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend. She then tried to disarm him.

As she wrestled a shotgun from the suspect on the classroom floor, a bystander armed with a pistol ran inside and shot the teen. Police said the bystander was a father of two girls at the school.

The father had been driving past the school at lunchtime on Thursday. He saw the suspect firing in the car park and then shooting through a window to get inside.

Victims and suspect

Police said the 16-year-old suspect had been a student at the school. He was armed with about 44 more rounds of shotgun ammunition when he was stopped. He fired as many as 15 rounds in the classroom.

Police identified the suspect as Griffin J John II. A search warrant has been executed at his home, and the search is ongoing. Police believe he travelled to the school on foot. They are still investigating his exact movements, how he obtained the gun and his motive.

At a news conference on Friday, police identified two of the four people killed: five-year-old Rhoam Summer and 25-year-old teacher Meghan Lambert. The families of the other two students, aged eight and 11, have not yet agreed to have them named publicly.

Lambert's family said in a statement shared by police that she wanted to teach in the district where she grew up. They described her as "compassionate and had a huge heart" and said "she always fought for the underdog and those with special needs."

Bryan Jolly, Summer's grandfather, said the family was devastated. He told the New York Times that his grandson "was very bright and very mischievous and very fun-loving, and totally without fear."

Two others were injured. A 54-year-old teacher was still being treated in hospital. A seven-year-old student was in serious but stable condition.

The bystander

Officials did not confirm the name of the father who intervened. His family identified him to US media as Kaylub Giamanco, a 36-year-old carpenter.

His brother told NBC News that Giamanco had just finished lunch and was driving home when he saw the attack. Police said Giamanco had a legally concealed .40 calibre pistol in his vehicle. His brother said he grabbed the gun "and decided to go in after" the suspect. Police said he fired at the suspect "multiple times", killing him.

Giamanco's mother, Kenda Freeman, of Sacramento, California, told a local CBS station that her son called her moments after the shooting. She said he was "traumatised." She recalled him saying: "'a man went into my daughter's school'... and I looked at him point blank, and I shot and killed him, mum." She added: "I told him he saved a lot of lives, and he said, 'mum, I couldn't save them all'."

Reaction

Police Chief Mike Krantz praised those who intervened. "To the people who showed courage in the face of such violence and intervened to prevent this tragedy from being any worse, we owe you a debt of gratitude," he said. He said the actions of both the teacher and the father had saved lives. He said the teacher had not been hurt but had "almost certainly helped prevent more bloodshed."

US President Donald Trump praised the bystander on Friday, calling him a "great hero." He told reporters the situation could have become "much worse."

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek acknowledged the man's actions had stopped further loss of life. She said they "carry a heavy emotional burden," and said her thoughts were with him as well.