Saylor Graham, a seven-year-old girl described as 'inspirational', is fighting for her life after being shot in the face during a school shooting in Oregon that killed three children and a teacher. She has undergone surgery and has been stabilised in serious condition, according to a family friend who spoke to NBC News.
Shooting at Silver Rail Elementary
The shooting took place at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon. Three children, aged five, eight and 11, along with a teacher, were killed. The attacker, 16-year-old Griffin J. John II, a former student at the school, entered a special needs classroom and began firing with a shotgun.
During the shooting, one teacher grappled with the shooter for the weapon. At that moment, the father of two students came in and shot the attacker dead. The pair were credited with stopping the rampage and saving many lives.
Community response and fundraiser
Teacher Becky Drury, 54, is recovering in hospital after the ordeal. Matt Sampson, executive director of Sparrow Clubs, said Saylor joined the Bend High Lava Bear Sparrow programme in 2025. He said: "Saylor is the definition of light and joy. And one of those kids that, you know, when she's in the room. You can't think of anything else other than what Saylor's doing, 'I need to get to know her.' She's just very inspirational, very joyful, very courageous, and inspirational."
A GoFundMe page, started to support Saylor's family, has raised more than $400,000 USD. The fundraiser states: "Saylor Graham is a 7-year-old little girl, daughter, sister, and neice with a fierce determination to thrive! On October 15, 2026, Saylor survived a tragedy no child should ever have to endure."
While police continued to investigate John's motive, distraught parents, teachers and others gathered outside the school on Saturday to leave flowers, pray and cry. Savannah Patton, a mother with a 1st and 4th grader at the school, said the teacher who died, Megan Lambert, 25, had been a substitute for her daughter's class last year. Patton said she has struggled to explain what happened to her daughter, who asked, "Mommy, why would someone want to take a gun and kill us at school?" Patton said it was a question she didn't know how to answer.
