Who Was Megan Lambert? Teacher Killed by Oregon Shooter Griffin John Was Beloved Volleyball Coach
Megan Lambert, a 25-year-old teacher and volleyball coach remembered for having “had a huge heart,” was identified as the victim who was fatally shot by a gunman at an Oregon elementary school on Thursday. Lambert, who was born and raised in Bend, Oregon, was among four people shot by 16-year-old Griffin John at Silver Rail Elementary School in the city.
“To tell you about who Megan was would take 25 years,” her family said in a heartbreaking statement shared during a press conference on Friday following her tragic death. “She had a passion for sports, a passion for volleyball. She was a volleyball coach,” the statement from the family continued.
Beloved Soul Killed Tragically
“She turned down extra pay as a coach so that families who couldn’t afford to participate could play the sport, Megan was compassionate and had a huge heart. She always fought for the underdog, especially those with special needs. She was an incredible sister, daughter, niece, and granddaughter. She was funny, opinionated, and lit up the room,” read the statement shared by the Bend Police Department.
Lambert graduated from Boise State University in May 2023, and Silver Rail Elementary was her first full-time teaching job. Her family said she had spent years working as a substitute teacher at the school before securing the position.
“She loved Silver Rail. This was her dream job,” the family said in a statement.
Lambert was killed along with three students, aged 5, 8 and 11, before bystander Kaylub Giamanco intervened and fatally shot the 16-year-old gunman John inside a special education classroom.
Teacher Becky Drury and another student, a 7-year-old girl who uses a wheelchair, were also shot in the attack, according to police and sources.
Hero Bystander Saved Lives
Lambert’s family thanked Giamanco, acknowledging the emotional toll the incident may have taken on him. “We know that the bystander is going through a rough time, but we are grateful, and we think that he is a hero,” the family said.
Drury, 54, an award-winning educational assistant, was identified by relatives as the teacher who suffered critical injuries in the shooting.
“The kindness and concern shown to our family and everyone affected mean more than we can express,” Becky’s husband, Will Drury, said in statements to NBC News and The New York Times.
He added that his priority was helping his wife recover while supporting their family during an extraordinarily difficult period.
Yvonne Drury wrote on social media that her daughter-in-law had been shot in her left arm and right hand and was “recovering in the hospital after surgery.”
The youngest person killed in the shooting was identified as 5-year-old Rhoam Summer, described as a “very bright and mischievous” boy who had only recently started kindergarten.
