According to a report by The Associated Press on October 24th, last week, an American man shot and killed a juvenile gunman, ending a violent shooting incident at an elementary school in Oregon.
The man named Kalub Jamanako said that he was the “last line of defense” for the children. At the same time, he felt deeply guilty for not being able to arrive earlier and save all the victims.
His two daughters attend school at this school, which was shot by gunfire on October 15th. He said he feels guilty towards the families of the victims.
Jamanco told local media, “I am very sorry that I couldn’t save their children. This is the biggest pain in my heart right now. It is indeed touching to receive gratitude for saving some children, but there were still some children that I simply couldn’t save.”
On that day, a shooting incident occurred at Silver Rope Elementary School in Bend, Oregon. Griffin J. John II, a 16-year-old former student from the school, used a shotgun to break into the locked classroom and committed violence, resulting in the death of three children (aged 5, 8, and 11) and a teacher. Another student was seriously injured, and one teacher was injured and hospitalized.
According to the police, a female teacher threw her phone at the attacker and rushed forward to fight with him. Subsequently, Jamanko chased into the teaching building and shot the gunman dead.
Jiamanke recalled that the morning he drove to work after sending his daughter to school. A few hours later, the 36-year-old carpenter passed by the school again on his way home during his lunch break.
He saw a man in black carrying a long spear, shooting at a pickup truck and a person who was trimming the school lawn. Then, the shooter crossed the fence and walked towards the teaching building.
Jarmanco said, “Panic swept through my mind in an instant.” He took a .40 caliber pistol from the dashboard of the truck, called 911 while chasing the shooter. He asked the dispatcher for backup and then hung up the phone.
"I told the dispatcher: 'I'm sorry, I have to rush in, people are going to die.'" Jā Mànkē said.
As he approached the teaching building, Jarmanco lay on the ground, moving forward using his elbows.
"At that moment, I heard children crying out for help. Immediately after, gunfire erupted, and I crawled forward quickly using a prone technique. My mind told me: 'This may be the last thing I do in my life.'"
Jarmanco entered the school through a window that had been shattered by a gunshot. He glanced towards a classroom on the side and saw a teacher fighting against the gunman. The two men turned their backs to him, giving him a chance to shoot.
"I feel that I'm just standing between a marksman and other children as the last line of defense." Jia Mankuo said.
He suddenly pushed open the classroom door and stepped inside, pulling the trigger.
The gunman and the teacher both fell to the ground. As the gunman reached for his shotgun, the teacher took the opportunity to rush out of the classroom.
He desperately tried to take back his weapon. Jia Man Ke said, "I watched him as I fired two more shots into him, ensuring he could not move again; I was afraid that he would continue to harm others."
The police stated that Jarmanoko's guns were legally stored in a truck. The police believe that he and the teacher who faced the gunman barehanded saved many lives. The day after the shooting, U.S. President Trump described Jarmanoko as an "amazing hero" and said that he had "handled the situation well."
Another teacher in the classroom, Becky Drewry, said in a report that she was shot at close range with a shotgun. Her left hand was almost severed, and she had to lie on the ground helplessly, pretending to be dead.
The identity of that teacher who fought the gunman has not been made public yet. Jamanco told the radio station that she was the “true hero.” It was her distraction that created an opportunity for her to shoot and kill the attacker.
"What is the taste of snatching away someone's life, it's hard to describe...but from the depths of my heart, I feel that I am destined to be there. If I weren't present at the time, I wouldn't dare imagine what kind of consequences would ensue." said Jia Man Ke.
