Teacher says she played dead after Oregon school shooting

A teacher critically wounded in a shooting that killed three students and a fellow teacher at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, said she pretended to be dead to avoid being shot again. Becky Drury said she was hit at close range before she could take further action, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

Drury's account challenges reports that she shielded a student during the attack. It came as district schools reopened Wednesday for the first time since the shooting, with an increased police presence.

Drury, 54, said she went back into her classroom after spotting the gunman and was trying to close the door when he shot her. Her left hand was nearly severed and her right arm was badly injured, ABC7 Los Angeles reported.

Unable to get up or protect anyone, Drury said she lay still and pretended to be dead in hopes the attacker would not fire at her again. She said she was offering her account to address conflicting reports about what she had done.

Police said the attack left boys ages 5, 8 and 11 and a 25-year-old teacher dead at the scene. Drury and another student were injured.

According to the police account reported by ABC7 Los Angeles, the 16-year-old gunman carried a 12-gauge shotgun. He fired at a truck outside the school, shot at locked doors to get inside and attacked a classroom for students with special needs.

Another teacher threw her cellphone at the gunman, tackled him and attempted to wrest away his weapon, police said. She was not injured. A father whose two children attended the school followed the attacker inside and fatally shot him, police said.

Investigators served search warrants covering the suspect's home, electronic devices and social media accounts, police said. They confirmed that the firearm had been purchased legally but provided no additional information about the purchase.

The motive remained under investigation. The Bend Police Department said officers would maintain a greater presence around schools in the coming days and weeks to help students and staff feel more comfortable.