A father who confronted and stopped a teenage gunman at his daughters’ elementary school in Oregon has revealed the emotional words he said to the attacker in the moments following the deadly shooting.

Kaylub Giamanco, 36, has been praised for intervening during the October 15 attack at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, where his two daughters were students. The tragedy claimed the lives of three children, aged five, eight and 11, as well as 25-year-old teacher Meghan Lambert.

Giamanco was driving home for lunch when he realised something terrible was happening at the school. After contacting emergency services, he decided to intervene rather than remain outside.

Inside the building, he encountered a teacher struggling with the teenage attacker. Giamanco intervened and fatally shot the 16-year-old gunman, identified as Griffin J. John II.

In a new interview with CBS News, the father revealed what happened when the injured attacker attempted to speak to him.

Giamanco recalled responding with an angry expletive, explaining that he had no interest in listening to someone who had taken innocent lives.

He said he could not bear the thought of hearing the attacker’s explanation after witnessing the devastation inside the school.

But despite being widely praised as a hero, Giamanco has struggled deeply with the aftermath. He revealed that memories of the tragedy continue to haunt him, particularly the voices and screams he heard that day.

The father also expressed painful feelings about the victims he could not save, saying he wished he could apologise to their families.

He has since received widespread support from the local community, while considering ways to help improve school safety and raise awareness of mental health.

For Giamanco, the experience has changed his life forever. Although his actions may have prevented further tragedy, he continues to carry the emotional weight of what happened inside his daughters’ school.