In brief
In Bend, Oregon, Becky Drury was wounded when a 16‑year‑old ex‑student opened fire at Silver Rail Elementary. Unable to defend herself, she feigned death in hopes the shooter would forget her. The attacker later killed four people, including a five‑year‑old child, before a parent shot the gunman. Drury survived with serious injuries, underscoring the need for stricter gun‑law reforms and school safety measures.
Teacher Survives Oregon Elementary School Shooting by Pretending to Be Dead
On 15 October, a 54‑year‑old teacher named Becky Drury was shot while trying to close a classroom door at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, Oregon. She sustained a gunshot to her left arm that almost severed the limb and a second wound that left her unable to move.
Faced with the danger of a 16‑year‑old former student who had already killed four people, Drury acted instinctively. She lay on the floor, feigning death, in a desperate attempt to make the shooter “forget” her.
The attacker, identified as Griffin J. John II, later entered the school and was eventually shot and killed by a nearby parent. Police have yet to determine his motive.
While another teacher tried to disarm the gunman by throwing her phone, Drury’s injuries prevented her from intervening further. The tragedy left five children and a senior teacher dead.
“This could have been unimaginable,” Drury said in a statement. “I only had a chance to survive by pretending I was dead.”
The incident has reignited concerns about gun access among high‑school students and the safety protocols in schools serving special‑education needs.
