Kaylub Giamanco recounts the moments he decided to enter Silver Rail Elementary

Kaylub Giamanco, 36, described the physical and mental strain of the day he stopped the Silver Rail Elementary School shooting. In an interview with Oregon Public Broadcasting that aired on Friday, Giamanco spoke about the anguish of hearing children plead for their lives while he was unable to reach every student. He said he wants to apologize to the parents of the victims for not saving their children, acknowledging that while gratitude exists for those he rescued, grief remains for those who were lost.

The attack occurred earlier this month when 16-year-old Griffin J John II, a former student who attended special education classes at the school, entered the building. Police reported that six people were shot in a classroom. Three boys, aged five, eight, and 11, died along with 25-year-old teacher Megan Lambert. Two others, including 54-year-old teacher Becky Drury, survived with injuries.

Giamanco, a carpenter, was not at his workplace when the shooting began. He had decided to go home for lunch with his wife after seeing the school on his way back. He initially thought a person carrying a long gun was joking until he saw the attacker fire at a pickup truck and head toward the school. Giamanco grabbed a handgun from his car and called emergency services, stating, 'I'm sorry, I have to go in. People are going to die.'

He followed the gunman, who shot through the school's locked glass doors. Hearing gunfire and cries for help, Giamanco crawled toward the building. He described telling himself this was probably the last thing he would ever do. He crawled through a shattered window into the classroom where a teacher was struggling with the attacker. Giamanco opened the door and fired. He shot the attacker again when the gunman reached for his weapon. Giamanco then placed his gun on the ground and raised his hands as a police officer arrived.

The teacher who fought the attacker threw her phone at him, tackled him, and tried to take his shotgun. Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said she almost certainly prevented more bloodshed. Giamanco said he wanted to give her a hug, calling her a true hero. Lambert's family described her as fighting for the underdog and those with special needs. The youngest victim, Rhoam Summer, five, was described by his father as leaving his family broken.

Giamanco's name became public less than a day after the shooting. His mother, Kenda Freeman, read a statement asking for privacy. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek praised Giamanco's actions while acknowledging the heavy emotional burden they carry. Giamanco said he now lies awake at night, replaying the faces and screams he witnessed during the attack.

Police are still investigating the motive behind the shooting. The other two boys killed have not been publicly named at their families' request. Drury said in a statement that the gunman shot her as she tried to close her classroom door.