Teacher injured in Oregon school shooting says she had no chance to protect students

Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, Oregon, was attacked last Thursday. A former student, 16-year-old Griffin J. John II, entered the school with a shotgun and attacked a special education classroom. The shooting killed three children, ages 5, 8, and 11, and one teacher. Another student suffered critical injuries. The event devastated the school community and forced schools to close temporarily.

Teacher Becky Drury said she ran toward the disturbance, then saw the shooter and rushed back. She tried to shut the classroom door, but he was already there. He shot her at close range. Her left hand was nearly severed, and her right arm was also struck. She pretended to be dead because she could not get up or defend herself or the children.

Another teacher threw a phone at the attacker and tackled him for control of the shotgun. A father then followed the shooter into the building and shot him. Schools reopened Wednesday except Silver Rail, while families and staff continued dealing with the trauma.

A pump-action shotgun is a firearm that uses a sliding front grip, often called a pump, to load the next shell after firing. This design lets the shooter fire repeated shots by manually cycling the action. The article identifies the weapon as a pump-action shotgun, but it does not explain its technical operation. Its importance comes from how it was used during the attack.

According to police, Griffin J. John II blasted his way through locked doors with the shotgun before attacking the special education classroom. The weapon therefore helped him enter a secured area and carry out the shooting. Police Chief Mike Krantz said the shotgun had been purchased legally, though investigators were still determining how it reached the shooter.

The weapon was later taken from the attacker during a struggle. Another teacher threw a phone at him and tackled him, while a father followed into the building and shot him. The article does not provide further technical details about the shotgun.

The article reports four deaths at Silver Rail Elementary: three children and one teacher. The children were 5, 8, and 11 years old. One other student was critically injured. The report also describes teacher Becky Drury’s serious wounds, including a nearly severed left hand and a gunshot injury to her right arm.

The figures show that both children and adults were harmed. Among the children, three died and one survived with critical injuries. Among the adults, one teacher was killed and Drury was wounded. The article also identifies another teacher who confronted the attacker, but it does not say that teacher was injured. Therefore, the report clearly documents at least two harmed adults.

Drury remained hospitalized when she issued her statement. The district reopened schools Wednesday except Silver Rail. Officers were present at each reopened school, while some families were not ready to return and Silver Rail families continued working through the aftermath.

Two people directly confronted the attacker. Another teacher threw her phone at him, then tackled him and wrestled for control of the shotgun. A father followed the shooter into the building and shot him. Their intervention ended the immediate attack before more people could be harmed, according to the account provided.

The teacher’s actions mattered because they disrupted the attacker and created a struggle over the weapon. The article says that confrontation likely saved lives. The father’s pursuit brought another armed intervention inside the school. The report does not identify the father or describe exactly how he entered the building, but it says he shot the shooter.

The article presents these actions alongside Becky Drury’s account. Drury was shot before she could protect the children or shelter them. She said she pretended to be dead. The investigation continued afterward, including searches of the attacker’s home, electronic devices, and social media accounts.

The shooting disrupted the entire Bend school district. Schools closed after the attack, reflecting the need to respond to the violence and support affected students, staff, and families. By Wednesday, schools had reopened throughout the district except Silver Rail Elementary, the school where the attack occurred.

Security was visible when classes resumed. The Bend Police Department said dozens of officers were at each school to welcome children. This response aimed to reassure families as students returned. Silver Rail remained closed, allowing the community more time to address the direct impact of the shooting and the continuing investigation.

The return was not simple for everyone. Superintendent Steven Cook said some families were still not ready, while Silver Rail families were going through many processes. The situation shows that reopening buildings does not end the effects of a school shooting. Families and staff may need continuing time and support before normal routines return.

Police Chief Mike Krantz said the pump-action shotgun used in the attack was purchased legally. That describes the original sale, but it does not explain who ultimately possessed the weapon. The chief did not identify the buyer and said investigators were still piecing together how the shotgun ended up with 16-year-old Griffin J. John II.

The Associated Press previously reported, citing an unnamed law-enforcement source, that the shooter’s mother purchased the shotgun. Based on the article, the weapon could therefore have reached the teenager after that purchase, but the exact transfer or access is not established. The report does not say whether the mother knowingly gave it to him or how he obtained it.

That unresolved chain of possession remained part of the investigation. Authorities were serving search warrants at the attacker’s home and examining his electronic devices and social media accounts. The legal purchase did not answer the central question of how the firearm became available during the school attack.

After a traumatic public event, accurate reporting helps communities understand what happened without adding new harm. Survivors and families may already be dealing with grief, injuries, fear, and public attention. Incorrect accounts can misrepresent their actions and make recovery harder. Drury said accurate, respectful reporting is an important service that can help heal wounds.

Some reports suggested Drury threw herself on top of a student to protect that child. She corrected the record. Drury said she ran toward the disturbance, saw the shooter, and rushed back to the classroom. Before she could close the door, he shot her. Unable to stand or defend anyone, she pretended to be dead.

Her correction changes the public understanding of her experience. It does not lessen the courage shown by the other teacher who confronted the attacker. Instead, it distinguishes separate actions and respects each person’s account. The article presents truthfulness as part of responsible journalism and community healing after violence.