The investigation into why 16-year-old Griffin J. John II entered Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, and opened fire inside a special needs classroom, killing three young children and a 25-year-old teacher, remains ongoing.
Now, Becky Drury, a teacher who was seriously injured in the October 15 shooting, is speaking out about the horrific ordeal. In a newly released statement shared by ABC News, Drury recounts the terrifying moments she came face-to-face with the gunman, revealing how he shot her “at close range” and ultimately pretended to be dead in hopes of surviving.
Teacher Becky Drury Recounts Devastating Silver Rail Elementary Shooting & How She Survived
Becky Drury, a 54-year-old teacher at Silver Rail Elementary, is sharing the harrowing account of the October 15 shooting that claimed four lives and seriously injured two. In her statement, Drury recalled coming face-to-face with the 16-year-old gunman and being unable to help those inside the classroom after she was shot. In a desperate attempt to survive the deadly attack, she pretended to be dead.
In her account, Drury shared that she walked out of her classroom to see what was going on, but as she “immediately” ran back to the room, the shooter was “already there.”
“I turned to shut the door behind me, but the shooter was already there,” Drury recounted. “Before I could do anything more, he shot me at close range, and I fell to the ground.”
Drury’s left hand, which was “almost completely severed,” and her right arm were “severely injured.”
“I could not get up, defend myself, or protect anyone else. 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,” she said. Drury also wanted to clarify any misconceptions about her role in the shooting. “I was shot before I had any chance to act,” she added.
“What happened in that classroom was unimaginable, and like so many in this community, my heart is broken for everyone affected by this tragedy. My thoughts are with those who were hurt, those we lost, their families, our school, and the Bend community. I am truly grateful for the kindness and support we have received as we face the difficult days ahead together,” she ended her statement.
Who Were the Victims? And Who Stopped the Shooter?
According to Oregon Public Broadcasting, the special needs classroom in which Griffin John II entered and opened fire was occupied by five children and three teachers. Amid the chaos, one student and one teacher miraculously managed to escape unharmed. The outlet also reported that John was once a special needs student at Silver Rail Elementary.
As previously mentioned, three children and one teacher were killed inside the classroom. Rhoam Summer, a 5-year-old kindergartener, and two boys aged eight and 11, whose names have been withheld at their families’ request. 25-year-old Megan Lambert, a teacher, is also among those who died, per OPB.
According to ABC News, another student named Saylor Graham, 7, was seriously injured and taken to the hospital. Graham has a genetic disorder, uses a wheelchair, and is “mostly non-verbal.”
Upon seeing John enter the classroom, another teacher threw her phone at him, with Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz stating the teacher then “tackled him and fought to take the firearm from him,” and that she “almost certainly helped prevent more bloodshed.”
But it was the father of two daughters who attended the school who eventually killed John and ended what could have been even more casualties. ABC News shared that Kaylub Giamanco witnessed John shooting at a truck before entering the school and followed him before fatally shooting him. His family confirmed that he had a concealed carry permit.
Though Giamanco is being held a hero he is “not seeking recognition, but instead wishes to express his gratitude to the first responders, school personnel, and community for the outpouring of love and support.”
Becky Drury: Oregon Teacher Shares Harrowing Silver Rail Elementary School Shooting Details