In the terrifying moments when gunfire erupted inside a classroom at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, one educator reportedly made a split-second decision to protect a little girl in her care. According to a new report from The New York Times, 54-year-old Becky Drury threw herself over Saylor Graham, her seven-year-old student, as the gunman fired, placing her own body between the child and the violence unfolding around them. Both were struck by gunfire, and both survived.
The heartbreaking account was shared with The New York Times by Heidi Penington, a friend of the injured child’s family. Penington told the newspaper that a bullet passed through Drury’s arm and struck the little girl in the face. The account offers a clearer picture of what may have happened inside the classroom on Thursday, October 15, although investigators have not publicly confirmed those specific details.
For a community still struggling to comprehend the loss of three children and a beloved teacher, the account reveals another extraordinary act of courage amid an unimaginable tragedy.
A Teacher Fighting for Her Students
Drury was among those seriously injured when a 16-year-old gunman entered a special education classroom shortly before 1 p.m. Thursday. According to Bend Police, the seven-year-old girl received lifesaving medical care at the scene before being transported to St. Charles Bend and later transferred to Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. As of the department’s Friday update, the child remained in serious but stable condition.
Police identified Drury on Friday after receiving permission from her family, confirming that she was hospitalized at St. Charles Bend with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Her family has reported that she underwent surgery following the shooting. Her husband, Will Drury, also shared a statement expressing gratitude for the outpouring of community support while asking for continued consideration for everyone affected by the tragedy. “We live in a truly special community“, Drury told OPB.
For those who know Becky, her devotion to children is nothing new. In a heartfelt Facebook post, fellow educator Kaelynn Adams-McDonald described sharing a classroom with her for several years and recalled how Becky consistently brought warmth, energy, and encouragement to the students around her. The two had hugged and joked together just days before the shooting, a moment that has taken on an entirely different meaning in the wake of Thursday’s events.
Several Acts of Courage Inside the Classroom
Drury’s reported efforts to shield the little girl are separate from another teacher’s actions that Bend Police described during a Friday news conference. According to Police Chief Mike Krantz, an unidentified educator threw her cellphone at the gunman, tackled him, and fought to take away his shotgun. That teacher was not injured during the confrontation.
A father whose children attend the school, identified by family members as Kaylub Giamanco, had witnessed the gunman outside the building and followed him inside after hearing gunfire. Police said he encountered the shooter struggling with the teacher and fatally shot him, bringing the attack to an end. Authorities have praised the actions of those who intervened, saying their courage likely prevented further bloodshed.
The shooting claimed the lives of three children, ages five, eight, and eleven, along with 25-year-old teacher Megan Lambert. Their deaths have left families grieving and a school community facing a loss that will be felt for years to come.
Community Rallies Around Becky and Her Family
As Drury begins what may be a long recovery, members of the Bend community are coming together to support her and her husband. A GoFundMe campaign titled “Support Ms. Becky’s Healing Journey” has been organized by Annie Moseley, with Will Drury listed as the beneficiary. The fundraiser says contributions will help the family manage expenses associated with Becky’s injuries and recovery.
The campaign describes an educator deeply loved by the school community, someone whose kindness and presence have made a lasting difference in the lives of her students. In the organizer’s words, “Thank you for always showing up for every student, every day.“
There are still many unanswered questions about what happened inside Silver Rail Elementary School, and investigators continue working to establish the full sequence of events. The account of Becky protecting the young girl comes from a family friend interviewed by The New York Times, rather than a completed official investigation.
What is certain is that two people are alive and receiving medical care after an act of violence that no child, teacher, or family should ever have to endure. As Bend grieves those who were lost, the community is also rallying around the people whose lives have been forever changed, including a teacher remembered by her colleagues for the care she showed her students long before that terrible Thursday afternoon.
