By Abby Knox, Managing Editor  

Last Thursday, at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, three children and one teacher were killed at the hands of a young man armed with a 12-gauge shotgun. Sixteen-year-old Griffin J. John II opened fire into a special needs classroom around 1p.m. that afternoon. 

This school shooting is different.  

John knowingly targeted a vulnerable population, firing into a classroom filled with children who have special needs. Allegedly John got a hold of the gun through his mother who purchased it. 

What makes this case even more heartbreaking is John’s connection to the Silver Rail community. According to NBC News, John previously attended Silver Rail Elementary and was a special needs student himself.  

In less than three minutes, John fired as many as 15 rounds into a place that children are excited to go to each day. Yet, John has ruined that for the more than 400 students who attend Silver Rail Elementary. Armed with another 44 rounds of ammunition, John wanted to inflict as much pain as possible and leave a lasting impact on the lives of hundreds more.  

It is clear with the 52 school shootings that have occurred in the United States in 2026 alone that our lawmakers do not have the lives of children and teachers in mind.  

Children with neurodevelopmental disorders hold a special place in my heart. Having worked one on one with children who have autism. I know that it is very likely that Megan Lambert, the 25-year-old teacher who was fatally shot and killed, while protecting her students, struggled to get her students to be quiet.  

These children were likely feeling a plethora of emotions and then to be told to be quiet and hide. I can only imagine the confusion they were feeling, how Lambert was feeling knowing  each of her students on an individual level. She understood that some of them struggled with being quiet, with loud gunshots. She knew how some simply cannot sit still yet are being begged to hide in the corner of the classroom away from view.  

Although details on the mental disorder that John suffered with have not been released, I believe that John had enough competence to understand that he would hurt people by using a gun on them. He may not have understood the concept of death, but he did know that using a gun was going to cause pain.  

This unfortunate event has parents, especially those who have children with special needs, holding their children close.  

With this recent shooting, the importance of teaching children how to handle their emotions is at the forefront of my mind, especially those whose children have mental disabilities or mental health disorders. Through the actions of John, it is clear that he was struggling emotionally. Yet had he received proper counseling to help him work through his emotions, I cannot help but wonder if four funerals would not need to be arranged.  

With proper preventative care, I question how many school shootings could have been prevented.  

So, to all the parents out there holding their babies extra tight today, remember you are doing amazing, and if you notice your child beginning to act different, have a conversation with them. It might just prevent the next school shooting.