The man was identified as Kaylub Giamanco, 36. His mother, Kenda Freeman, said he grew up in Placerville and has lived in Oregon for more than 30 years. He works as a contractor, she said, and his two children attend Silver Rail Elementary School. Neither child was among those killed.

Freeman said Giamanco was driving home during his lunch break when he noticed the attack. She told KPIX that he left his vehicle, entered the school through a window the gunman had broken, and confronted the shooter. Freeman said her son legally owned and carried a firearm.

Afterward, Giamanco called his mother and told her he had shot and killed someone, Freeman recounted. He explained that a gunman had entered his daughter’s school and shot children. Freeman said she told her son she was proud of him and considered his actions heroic.

Local law enforcement said the teenage suspect used a shotgun his mother had previously purchased and fired about 15 rounds during the attack. The shooting left three children and a teacher dead before Giamanco intervened.

The account highlights the devastating impact on families and the school community, including Giamanco’s own children, who were at the school but survived. Authorities’ description of the weapon and the number of rounds fired has not been accompanied here by further details about the victims or the investigation.