BEND (Azat TV) – The parents of a five-year-old child killed in the recent mass shooting at a Bend, Oregon, elementary school have retained legal representation to investigate institutional security protocols and how the teenage gunman obtained his firearm, according to Associated Press reporting.
Rhoam Summer was among three children and a teacher killed in the attack on Thursday at Silver Rail Elementary School. The tragedy, which occurred in a special educational needs classroom in the central Oregon city, also left another student and a teacher wounded before an armed bystander intervened and killed the 16-year-old assailant.
Legal Scope and Questions Over Gun Purchase
Attorneys announced the investigation Saturday, stating that the legal probe will examine whether the school maintained adequate active shooter protocols and how the minor gunman, identified by police as 16-year-old Griffin J. John II, acquired the 12-gauge pump-action shotgun used in the rampage, Ottumwa Courier reported.
Tim Williams, a personal injury attorney in Bend and co-lead counsel for the parents, stated that initial retention on Friday was arranged to manage media inquiries before expanding into a broader investigation. A law enforcement official briefed on the matter told reporters that the weapon was purchased by the shooter’s mother. Investigators and legal representatives are now scrutinizing whether the dealer was informed that the firearm was intended for a minor and whether the mother met legal eligibility requirements to purchase it.
Under Oregon law, a minor is permitted to possess a shotgun if it is provided by a parent or with parental consent. Attorneys noted that the suspect’s mother, Shauntai Nickerson, has not publicly responded to requests for comment regarding the transaction.
District Response and Community Impact
Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook addressed school safety measures on Friday, stating that the district has invested significantly in security cameras, door locks, and perimeter fencing. Cook emphasized that staff and students conduct lockdown drills twice a year across all district facilities and assured the public that leadership will conduct a rigorous review of existing safety measures and potential enhancements.
Meanwhile, the family released a statement honoring Rhoam Summer as a vibrant five-year-old who enjoyed rainbows, unicorns, sharks, and dinosaurs, and who looked forward to participating in autumn community activities. Community members continue to leave floral tributes outside the school as survivors, including a 54-year-old teacher and a seven-year-old student, continue their recovery in local hospitals.