In brief
In the 15 October 2026 shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School, teacher Becky Drury was shot while attempting to close a classroom door. She survived by pretending to be dead, believing the gunman would not target her again. The 16‑year‑old assailant killed three students and a teacher before a parent fatally shot him. Drury’s testimony highlights the traumatic impact on educators and the urgent need for stronger school security measures.
Some readers may find this article distressing.
A 54‑year‑old teacher who survived a mass shooting at an Oregon elementary school said she pretended to be dead so the shooter would not shoot her again.
Becky Drury, a teacher at Silver Rail Elementary, explained how she was shot while trying to close her classroom door, fell to the floor and had to fake death to protect herself.
“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 said.
The 16‑year‑old former student fired shots that killed three students and a teacher before a parent from the school fatally shot the gunman.
Drury described severe injuries: her left hand was almost severed, her other arm was severely wounded, but she survived. She added that the violence was “unimaginable” and expressed deep sorrow for the community.
Police have yet to disclose a motive, and the case has reignited discussions on gun control, school security and the role of bystanders in preventing mass shootings.
