In the wake of the tragic shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, teacher Becky Drury shared harrowing details of her near-fatal encounter with the teenage gunman. Attempting to protect her students, Drury recalled seeing the assailant and rushing to close the classroom door, only to find him already there, ready to unleash violence.
Drury was shot at close range during the rampage that resulted in the deaths of three children, aged 5, 8, and 11, as well as a 25-year-old teacher, Megan Lambert. Speaking out after the incident, she described the overwhelming fear and pain, noting that she lay on the floor, severely injured, hoping to avoid further gunfire by pretending to be dead.
Witnesses recount that the chaos unfolded around 1 p.m., leading to a swift response from a bystander who fatally shot the 16-year-old gunman as he attempted to flee the scene. The police reported that the shooter had used a legally purchased Maverick 88 shotgun, equipped with various types of ammunition including birdshot and slugs.
As students returned to the Bend-La Pine Schools district for the first time following the tragedy, Silver Rail Elementary remained closed. The community is now grappling with the aftermath, as investigations continue into the shooter’s motivations, including a possible connection to extremist material online.
Drury expressed her heartbreak for the victims and their families, emphasizing the need for solidarity within the Bend community during this difficult time. She stated, “My thoughts are with those who were hurt, those we lost, their families, our school, and the Bend community,” highlighting the collective grief felt by many.
Photo credit: Payton Bruni
