The kindergartner killed in the horrifying Oregon school śh́óóting was planning on dressing up as a bunny for Halloween, his devastated parents revealed.
Rhoam Summer, 5, wanted to go pumpkin picking and had already picked out what character he wanted to dress up as for the fall holiday before his life was cruelly cut short in Thursday’s massacre at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend.
The youngster’s grieving parents, Kelik and Lillian Summer, paid tribute to their son, who was “so kind, loved to dance, and loved to help” others.
“He wanted to bring the brightest light into the world. He was so hard on himself when he knew he stumbled,” they said.
“We could not have hoped for a more wonderful child and everyone in his family, found family, and friend circle could not wait to see how he grew.”
Summer and two other unidentified children, aged 8 and 11, were killed in the mass śh́óóting when ex-student Griffin John, 16, attacked the special education classroom — firing as many as 15 rounds, according to Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz.
He also killed first-time teacher Megan Lambert, 25, and critically injured disabled student Saylor Graham, 7, and 54-year-old educator Becky Drury using a Maverick 88 pump-action shotgun purchased by his mom.
John’s rampage was stopped when he was shot dead by heroic dad Kaylub Giamanco, 36, who followed the teen into the building, fatally śh́óóting him with a .40-caliber pistol.
Giamanco’s two daughters attend Silver Rail Elementary.
Rhoam, who “loved rainbows and unicorns from a young age,” was identified as the śh́óóting’s victim by his father online – just hours after the bloodshed.
In a moving tribute, his parents said Rhoam’s heart “knew no limits and it grew with him every single day.”
“We were so proud of who he was and who he was growing to be.”
Summer’s parents have recommended mourners who want to memorialize him to draw pictures.
“Sharks, dinosaurs, monsters… Rhoam loved to tell stories of creatures with big teeth who needed understanding and friendship,” they said.
“Please make art for him. Draw or paint. Use your hands if you can. Get messy. Rhoam was not a child art prodigy, but he had the purest heart and he put love into every scribble, splash or paint, or smashed leaf he tried to shape.”
