Bend community rallies around victims, families after deadly school shooting

BEND Ore. (KPTV) - Messages of hope, candles, and flowers covered a space at Drake Park in Bend on Saturday.

“I hope they know they’re surrounded in love,” said Bend resident Wendy Boyer.

The outpouring of support comes after a 16-year-old boy shot and killed three young children and a teacher at Silver Rail Elementary on Thursday.

It was absolute sadness and horror honestly," Boyer said.

Law enforcement says a 7-year-old girl— whom friends have identified as Saylor— and a teacher were injured but survived the mass shooting.

The New York Times reports the teacher, Becky Drury, threw herself on top of the young student.

The Times said a bullet went through Drury’s arm and the 7-year-old’s face. Both were hospitalized.

“I know Saylor personally and it’s just — I still can’t believe that it happened,” said the Dance Connection Bend Instructor and Choreographer Shannon Guerrero.

Guerrero met the 7-year-old after she became what’s called a “Sparrow.”

The Sparrow Club program supports kids with special needs— and partnered Saylor with high schoolers who helped raise money for the 7-year-old’s ongoing medical expenses.

Guerrero said her daughters asked her to host a dance class for Saylor, and that’s when she connected with the 7-year-old and her family.

“She’s a wonderful ball of energy. A feisty little girl,” Guerrero said. “She was right over there, dancing with us and moving. She was just having the best time,” said Guerrero.

Guerrero and company at The Dance Connection Bend want to give back to Saylor the way they know how, through a benefit dance class.

“We love you, we’re here for you, we’re rallying for you. We’re dancing for you,” Guerrero said.

As the community continues to heal from this devastating tragedy, Guerrero hopes to see Saylor dancing again in her classroom.

“Miss Shannon can’t wait to dance with you again, hopefully sooner than later. But yeah, I’ll definitely have as many dance parties with her as much as she wants,” said Guerrero.

The dance benefit raised $1,000, according to the co-owner of The Dance Connection Bend, Lauren Dubois.

Follow this link to help Saylor and the other families impacted by the shooting.