Teacher Wounded in Oregon School Shooting Played Dead
Source reports published 22 Oct 2026, 7:26 am – 23 Oct 2026, 9:06 am AEST
A teacher injured in the Oregon school shooting recounted being shot before she could act, stating she pretended to be dead to avoid further harm. The incident involved a former student armed with a shotgun who attacked a special needs classroom, resulting in multiple fatalities.
What happened
- Becky Drury, a 54-year-old teacher at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, described her experience following the shooting.
- She stated that she initially ran to assess the situation outside her classroom before spotting the shooter.
- "I turned to shut the door behind me, but the shooter was already there," Drury said.
- "Before I could do anything more, he shot me at close range and I fell to the ground."
- Drury explained that her left hand was almost completely severed and her other arm was severely injured.
- Unable to defend herself or protect others, she "did the only thing I could do, which was to pretend to be dead in the hope he would not shoot me again."
- Another teacher threw her phone at the shooter and tackled him, while a parent fatally shot the teen gunman.
- Griffin J. John II, a 16-year-old former student, entered the special needs classroom with a legally purchased shotgun and opened fire.
- Three children, aged 5, 8, and 11, and a 25-year-old teacher, Megan Lambert, were killed.
- A seven-year-old student was also seriously wounded.
- Police Chief Mike Krantz confirmed the shotgun was legally purchased.
- The school district closed all schools after the shooting but reopened them Wednesday everywhere but Silver Rail.
- Dozens of officers were present at each school to welcome students.
Original reporting
- CBS News: Teacher who survived Oregon school shooting recounts being shot, pretending to be dead to survive
2026-10-21T21:26:00+00:00 - Guardian: Teacher wounded in Oregon school shooting played dead after she was shot
2026-10-22T00:00:00+00:00 - PBS NewsHour: Teacher injured in Oregon school shooting says she had no chance to protect students
2026-10-22T23:06:50+00:00