Oregon School Shooter Identified as 16-Year-Old John J. Griffin After Armed Father Stops Deadly Attack

The teenage gunman responsible for killing three elementary school students and a teacher in Bend, Oregon, has been identified as 16-year-old John J. Griffin, according to law enforcement sources, as investigators work to determine what motivated the attack.

Griffin allegedly entered Silver Rail Elementary School on Thursday afternoon armed with a pump-action shotgun belonging to his mother, opening fire on children and school employees before an armed bystander confronted and fatally shot him.

The attack claimed the lives of three children, ages 5, 8 and 11, along with a teacher. Another student, 7, and a 54-year-old teacher were critically wounded and transported to a nearby hospital.

Authorities said the violence began shortly before 1 p.m. when a person sitting inside a vehicle outside the school reported being shot at multiple times by an individual carrying a long gun.

The suspect then approached the elementary school and forced his way inside by shooting through locked entrance doors.

Within minutes, emergency dispatchers began receiving numerous calls reporting an active shooter inside the building.

Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said officers were dispatched immediately, with the first units arriving approximately three minutes after the initial emergency call.

By the time police entered the school, the gunman had already been killed by an armed community member who reportedly witnessed the suspect entering the building.

Investigators said the individual pursued the shooter inside and confronted him, bringing the attack to an end before responding officers reached the suspect.

The intervention has received widespread praise from authorities, who believe the armed citizen’s actions prevented additional casualties.

The individual was reportedly a father whose children attended Silver Rail Elementary School.

According to additional reporting, the man was driving home for his lunch break when he heard gunfire and saw the suspect enter the school.

Rather than leaving the area, he followed the gunman inside and confronted him.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek publicly thanked the individual for his actions, describing the intervention as heroic.

The governor also recognized the efforts of teachers, school employees and first responders who worked to protect students during the emergency.

The shooting has devastated the Bend community, where Silver Rail Elementary serves approximately 450 children in kindergarten through fifth grade.

The school employs roughly 40 staff members and is part of the Bend-La Pine School District.

Investigators have not established why Griffin targeted the school or whether he had a personal connection to any of the victims.

Law enforcement officials identified the suspect Friday after initially withholding his name while investigators gathered information about the attack.

Three senior law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation identified Griffin to NBC News.

Sources also indicated that the shotgun used in the attack had been purchased by the teenager’s mother around the time of his birthday in August.

Authorities are examining how Griffin obtained access to the firearm and whether anyone knew about his intentions before the shooting.

The investigation is expected to include a review of his background, communications and activities leading up to Thursday’s attack.

Police have not publicly identified a motive or announced whether the suspect had previously made threats.

One of the youngest victims has been identified by his family as 5-year-old Rhoam Summer.

His father, Kelik Summer, confirmed the devastating loss in a social media post Friday morning.

“Today has been the worst day of my life. My son Rhoam was killed in a school shooting,” the grieving father wrote.

He said his family was struggling with the tragedy while receiving support from relatives and friends.

The identities of the other victims had not all been publicly released as investigators continued notifying families and gathering information.

Police confirmed that the two surviving victims were hospitalized in critical condition.

Their medical conditions remained a major concern Friday as the community awaited additional updates.

The attack unfolded on what was reportedly picture day at the elementary school, an occasion that would ordinarily have involved students taking photographs and participating in routine school activities.

Instead, the afternoon became a desperate emergency as teachers attempted to protect children and parents rushed to learn whether their sons and daughters were safe.

After officers secured the building, students and school employees were evacuated to a nearby church where families could reunite.

Parents gathered outside the school and at the reunification location as authorities worked to account for everyone who had been inside.

Bend-La Pine Superintendent Steven Cook described the shooting as an unimaginable tragedy for the district.

School officials canceled classes and athletic events across the district Friday, giving students, families and employees time to begin processing the loss.

The FBI has joined the investigation, with federal agents assisting local authorities in determining the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is also assisting investigators, particularly with questions involving the shotgun and its ownership.

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that federal personnel were responding to the scene and coordinating with local law enforcement.

Police are expected to examine surveillance footage, witness statements and forensic evidence as they reconstruct the gunman’s movements.

The rapid response by the armed bystander has become a central focus of the investigation.

Officials said the individual saw the suspect entering the building and made the decision to pursue him.

Authorities have credited that intervention with ending the immediate threat before police could confront the gunman.

The circumstances have also drawn attention to the speed with which the attack unfolded.

The first emergency call was received at approximately 12:59 p.m., the school was directed to lock down at 1:01 p.m., and officers arrived around 1:02 p.m.

Despite that rapid police response, the suspect had already killed four people and critically wounded two others.

Gov. Kotek acknowledged the profound grief facing the community and said Oregon residents would need to support one another in the days ahead.

Community members gathered Thursday evening for a candlelight vigil honoring the victims and supporting their families.

Flowers and other memorials began appearing near the school as residents struggled to comprehend the violence.

The investigation remains active, with authorities seeking to determine what led Griffin to attack an elementary school and whether warning signs existed before Thursday’s shooting.

For the families of the three children and teacher who were killed, the tragedy has left an irreplaceable loss.

The actions of the armed bystander ended the attack, but investigators still face urgent questions about the gunman’s motive, his access to the weapon and the events that preceded the violence.

As Bend mourns, officials have pledged to continue investigating while providing support to the surviving victims, their families and the wider school community.