Hero father Kaylub Giamanco, who brought down Oregon school shooter, happened to be driving by when he heard shots fired... and feels 'guilty' he wasn't there in time to save four victims

The heroic father who shot the gunman who killed three children and a teacher inside an Oregon elementary school happened to drive by the building when he heard shots fired.

Kaylub Giamanco, 36, was driving past his daughters' school on his way home for lunch on Thursday when he heard gunfire. 

He is a carpenter and a father of two girls, ages 5 and 10, who attend Silver Rail Elementary, his brother told NBC News.

After hearing the gunshots, he followed 16-year-old shooter John J Griffin, who previously attended the school, into the building, his brother, Kyle, said.

Kyle explained that his brother owns a concealed weapon and followed the shooter into the special education room.

Griffin killed three students ages 5, 8 and 11, and a teacher, before he was shot by Giamanco, authorities said. Another teacher and a seven-year-old student were injured.

Giamanco doesn't feel like a hero because he is haunted by what he saw in the classroom and feels guilty that he didn't save more people, his brother said.

The Giamanco family is friends with the family of the seven-year-old who was injured. The seven-year-old is a wheelchair user and was shot in the face.

Kaylub Giamanco, 36, was driving past his daughters' school on his way home for lunch on Thursday when he heard gunfire

Three students, ages 5, 8 and 11, and a teacher, before he was shot by Giamanco, authorities said

Kyle said the child is recovering from surgery.

President Donald Trump praised Giamanco for stopping the Oregon school shooting.

'Well, I'll tell you what, there was a great hero. It could have been worse, as bad as it was. We had a great hero that went in and did the business,' Trump told reporters outside of the White House on Friday.

'He took care of business, and thank God we had him. Otherwise, it would have been much worse. It's a terrible thing, but thank goodness for a man that had a gun and knew how to use it.'

During a press conference on Thursday, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek called Giamanco a hero.

'To the community member who heroically intervened to stop further loss of life: Your actions carry a heavy emotional burden, and I just want you to know that my thoughts are with you as well,' Kotek said.

A GoFundMe has been set up for Giamanco to help pay for therapy, any legal expenses he may face and to support him while he takes time off work following the tragedy.

'Kaylub, his wife Kelsey and their two young daughters have an incredibly difficult road ahead of them,' the fundraiser stated.

'The emotional and psychological impact of this tragedy cannot be overstated, and they deserve the time, space and resources to begin healing together.'

He is a carpenter and a father of two girls, ages 5 and 10, who attend Silver Rail Elementary

John J Griffin, who previously attended the school, has been identified as the shooter 

The first victim of the shooting has been named as a five-year-old boy named Rhoam Summer.

His father, Kelik Summer, wrote on Facebook: 'Today has been the worst day of my life. My son Rhoam was killed in a school shooting.

'We are broken and lost, but are surrounded by friends and family who are keeping us safe.'

Griffin used a shotgun, believed to have been purchased by his mother, to blast out the locks of a 'safety vestibule' meant to keep schools safe. He then entered the special education section of Silver Rail and began shooting.

It has since emerged that the children inside were dressed their best ahead of photo day, with one girl who had to hide in silence, too traumatized to sleep.

Hannah Ferrie told The New York Times that her two young daughters, ages five and seven, are terrified after surviving Thursday's shooting.

She said her seven-year-old was forced to sit in silence next to her second-grade teacher after they heard gunshots and glass shattering, and now she can't leave her mother's side and is too scared to sleep alone.

After hearing the gunshots, Giamanco followed 16-year-old shooter John J Griffin into the building

'It’s such a relief, and also a feeling of profound guilt that other parents didn’t get that,' Ferrie said.

'This is a systemic problem that the United States exclusively has. It’s because we value Second Amendment rights over children’s lives, and that has to change. If I hear another thing that says thoughts and prayers, I will be even more disgusted.'