7-Year-Old Girl Shot in Face in Oregon School Shooting Critically Injured, Recovering

A seven-year-old girl, Saylor Graham, is in stable condition after being shot in the face during a school shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Oregon. The incident occurred on Thursday when 16-year-old Griffin John II opened fire, striking Graham in a special needs classroom. She was initially in critical condition but has since improved and is now recovering at a Portland hospital. The family has requested privacy.

Graham, who uses a wheelchair due to a rare gene mutation called CASK, has significant medical needs. CASK impacts physical and cognitive development, leaving her non-verbal and reliant on a wheelchair, although she can walk independently at times. She also experiences heightened sensory sensitivities and dysphagia, a condition affecting swallowing. She is one of only two children in Oregon diagnosed with this disease.

Despite her medical challenges, Graham is described as having a bubbly personality and a "fierce determination to thrive." She has been part of a program at Bend High School where students support her and her family with medical expenses. School officials noted that Graham has inspired and unified students, bringing light and joy with her courageous spirit.

The Shooting Incident

Griffin John II, the 16-year-old gunman, killed three students and one teacher before being fatally shot by a civilian. The victims have been identified as Rhoam Summer, 5, teacher Meghan Lambert, 25, and two other students aged eight and 11. Educational assistant Becky Drury was also injured in the attack.

Authorities reported that John, who was not currently enrolled in a Bend public school, approached Silver Rail Elementary on foot. He reportedly threw his shotgun over a fence before attempting to enter the school. When prevented from entering through the front, he moved to a rear entrance and forced his way through a security vestibule. John continued firing before being killed by Kaylub Giamanco, 36, a father who intervened after spotting the teen while driving home on his lunch break. Giamanco holds a concealed carry permit. The motive for the shooting remains under investigation, and authorities are looking into how John obtained ammunition for his mother's shotgun, which was purchased around his 16th birthday.

Community Support

Two GoFundMe pages have been established to support Saylor Graham's family and her recovery. One fundraiser has already garnered nearly $300,000 in a single day, with a second page raising an additional $265,000. A family friend wrote on the fundraiser that Saylor survived a tragedy no child should endure and that the trauma has brought medical expenses and uncertainty to her family during an already difficult time. Graham's parents are reportedly by her side as she recovers.