‘I pretended to be dead’: Teacher who survived Oregon school shooting clarifies reaction to attack

BEND, OREGON: Becky Drury, a teacher critically injured in the deadly shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, has spoken out to correct reports about her actions during the attack, saying she was shot before she had any chance to intervene.

Drury, 54, said she returned to her classroom after seeing the gunman and was shot at close range as she tried to shut the door.

In a statement released Wednesday, October 21, Drury said she wanted to ensure the events of October 15 were reported accurately amid what she described as contradictory accounts of her actions.

Some reports had said she threw herself on top of a student during the Oregon shooting. Drury said she was unable to act after being shot and instead pretended to be dead in the hope that the gunman would not shoot her again.

Becky Drury says she was shot before she could intervene

Drury said she went to see what was happening when the shooting began but immediately returned to her classroom after seeing the gunman.

“I turned to shut the door behind me, but the shooter was already there,” she said. “Before I could do anything more, he shot me at close range, and I fell to the ground.”

Drury shared that her left hand was “almost completely severed” and her right arm was “severely injured,” leaving her unable to stand or protect herself or others.

“I could not get up, defend myself, or protect anyone else,” she said. “So, I did the only thing I could do, which was to pretend to be dead in the hope he would not shoot me again.”

Drury did not identify the specific reports she was disputing. However, she said she wanted to clarify that she had been shot before she had an opportunity to act.

“What happened in that classroom was unimaginable, and like so many in this community, my heart is broken for everyone affected by this tragedy,” she said, adding that she was grateful for the support her family had received.

Four people were killed in the Silver Rail Elementary School shooting

The shooting took place on October 15 in a special needs classroom at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon. Police said the 16-year-old suspected gunman first fired at a truck outside the school before shooting at locked doors to enter the building.

Three boys, ages five, eight, and 11, and a 25-year-old teacher, Meghan Lambert, were killed at the scene, police said. Drury and another student were injured.

The suspected shooter, who was armed with a 12-gauge shotgun, was fatally shot by the father of two Silver Rail students. Police said the father followed the teenager inside after seeing the shots fired at the truck.

Another teacher, who was not injured, threw her cellphone at the gunman after he entered the special needs classroom. Police said she tackled him and tried to take the firearm away.

Police continue investigating the deadly Oregon school shooting

Bend police said Wednesday they had served search warrants at the suspect’s home and on his electronic devices and social media accounts. Authorities also confirmed that the firearm used in the attack had been legally purchased but did not release further details.

Schools in the district reopened on Wednesday for the first time since the shooting. Police said officers would maintain an increased presence around schools in the coming days and weeks to support students and staff as they returned.

Drury said her thoughts remained with those who were injured, the victims who died, their families, the school and the wider Bend community.