Oregon teacher describes harrowing moment she played dead after being injured in school shooting: ‘Only thing I could do’

Becky Drury, a 54-year-old teacher at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, says she pretended to be dead after a teenage former student shot her at close range. She was unable to move or defend herself, and hoped the gunman would not shoot her again; her account adds detail about the attack and addresses what she says was inaccurate reporting about her actions.

The shooting took place on 15 October and killed three children, aged five, eight and 11, and teacher Meghan Lambert, 25. Drury’s left hand was nearly severed and her other arm was badly injured; doctors described her condition as serious but not life-threatening. Police said the 16-year-old former student entered through the school’s locked doors and went into a special needs classroom.