Wounded Oregon teacher: 'I was shot before I had any chance to act'

Becky Drury ran toward the sound of danger, tried to shut a classroom door, and was shot at close range before she could do anything else. The 54-year-old teacher, still hospitalized a week after the attack on Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, released a statement Wednesday setting the record straight on what she could — and could not — do when a 16-year-old gunman entered her special education classroom on October 15.

Here is what I remember: Once I realized something was happening outside, I ran to see what was going on. I then saw the shooter and immediately ran back into the classroom. I turned to shut the door behind me, but the shooter was already there. Before I could do anything more, he shot me at close range and I fell to the ground.— Becky Drury, wounded teacher

Drury's statement, issued through a family friend according to PBS NewsHour, directly contradicted earlier reporting that suggested she had thrown herself on top of a student to shield the child. She said she wanted to ensure 'the events of that day and my actions in particular are reported accurately.'

Lying on the floor, I saw that my left hand was almost completely severed from the gunshot, and my other arm was also severely injured. I could not get up, defend myself, or protect anyone else. So, I did the only thing I could do, which was to pretend to be dead in the hope he would not shoot me again.— Becky Drury, wounded teacher

The attack killed three children — ages 5, 8, and 11 — and 25-year-old teacher Megan Lambert. A seven-year-old student, Saylor Graham, was also seriously wounded. The gunman, Griffin J. John II, was a 16-year-old former student at the school who arrived armed with a shotgun and shot through the school's locked doors before entering the special education classroom, according to police.

John was stopped when another teacher threw her phone at him and tackled him. He was then fatally shot by 36-year-old Kaylub Giamanco, an armed bystander who had followed him into the school, according to CBS News.

Among the children killed was five-year-old Rhoam Summer, according to The Guardian. The Bend Police Department confirmed Wednesday that the shotgun used in the attack was purchased legally, and said detectives have served search warrants at the suspect's home and on his electronic devices and social media accounts across multiple platforms.

They have served search warrants at the shooting suspect's home, as well as on his electronic devices and his social media accounts on a variety of platforms. That work continues, and it takes time.— Bend Police Department

Bend-La Pine Schools began welcoming students back to its other schools on Wednesday, with dozens of officers greeting children as they returned. Silver Rail Elementary itself remains closed as the investigation continues.

What happened in that classroom was unimaginable, and like so many in this community, my heart is broken for everyone affected by this tragedy.— Becky Drury, wounded teacher

Why it matters — Drury's account offers the clearest picture yet of how rapidly the attack unfolded and corrects the public record on what teachers can realistically do when a gunman is already at the door.

Sources differ on Drury's actions during the shooting: Earlier reports indicated she shielded a student with her body (theguardian.com (characterizing prior coverage)) vs Drury states she was shot before she could act and pretended to be dead (cbsnews.com)

Reported by theguardian.com, pbs.org, cbsnews.com, foxnews.com, reuters.com