Virginia Elementary School Warned 3 Times of 6-Year-Old With Gun Before Shooting Incident
Administrators at a Virginia elementary school were warned three times that a 6-year-old student had a gun or was threatening people before he allegedly shot his teacher, a lawyer said Wednesday.
Teacher Abigail Zwerner was shot by the student at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia on January 6.[0] The unnamed boy shot Zwerner in the chest after an “altercation” in her first-grade classroom.
Toscano, the lawyer for Zwerner, declared that she had informed the Newport News School Board that a lawsuit would be lodged on behalf of her client.[1]
Toscano said that over the course of a few hours, three different times, school administration was warned by concerned teachers and employees that the boy had a gun on him at school and was threatening people.
Around 12:30 p.m., a teacher reported she had searched the young boy's backpack believing he may have a gun. She was unable to locate it, however, she did inform an official that the boy may have stowed the gun away in his pocket before stepping outside for recess.[2] The official is said to have answered: “Well, he has little pockets.”[3]
Prior to the shooting, Superintendent Parker reported that a school administrator had been informed that the student might have had a gun at school. The boy's backpack was searched by the school's employees, yet the 9mm semi-automatic pistol legally owned by his mother was not found.
Upon learning of the danger, the fourth employee inquired of an administrator as to whether he could search the boy; however, the request was denied.[3] The administrators instructed the employee to wait as the school day was nearing its end.[3]
Toscano said after this third report the administration still failed to call police, lock down the school, evacuate the building or confront the student.[4]
The board voted five to one in favor of a separation agreement and severance package for Parker.[5] By a vote of 5-1, Dr. Michele Mitchell – presently the executive director of student advancement – was appointed as the interim superintendent.[1] Dr. Mitchell has been a teacher, assistant principal, middle school principal, director of special education, and interim chief academic officer.[5] She has been with NNPS for almost 28 years.[5]
Richneck Elementary has been closed since the shooting, but students and parents have been invited back to the school Wednesday for a two-hour non-instructional activity period, according to a letter from a school administrator.[6]
0. “6-year-old said he wanted to light teacher on fire before shooting: report” Insider, 22 Jan. 2023, https://www.insider.com/6-year-old-light-teacher-on-fire-shooting-2023-1
1. “Newport News Public Schools superintendent fired” CBS 6 News Richmond WTVR, 26 Jan. 2023, https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/george-parker-iii-out-as-superintendent-at-newport-news-public-schools-january-25-2023
2. “Three warnings before US boy, 6, shot teacher – lawyer” BBC, 26 Jan. 2023, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64406295
3. “4 warning signs given before Richneck Elem. teacher shot by student: Lawyer” News 3 WTKR Norfolk, 25 Jan. 2023, https://www.wtkr.com/news/lawyer-of-richneck-elem-teacher-shot-by-6-year-old-student-to-file-lawsuit-on-her-behalf
4. “‘Road to recovery will be long' | Lawyer for Abby Zwerner to file lawsuit against Newport News Public Schools” 13newsnow.com WVEC, 25 Jan. 2023, https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/local/mycity/newport-news/abby-zwerner-lawyer-to-file-lawsuit-against-newport-news-public-schools-richneck-shooting/291-b123a065-dfda-4143-a8f0-05ee263d38db
5. “Parker out as superintendent in Newport News” WAVY.com, 25 Jan. 2023, https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/parker-out-as-superintendent-in-newport-news
6. “Gun allegedly used by 6-year-old to shoot teacher kept on top shelf of mother's closet, attorney says” CNN, 22 Jan. 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/22/us/newport-news-virginia-teacher-shooting-gun-closet/index.html