Deliberations Resume in Virginia School Shooting Lawsuit
The jury will continue deliberations Thursday in a $40 million lawsuit involving Abby Zwerner, a former Virginia teacher who was shot by a 6-year-old student. The case could establish a significant precedent regarding accountability after school shootings.
Arguments from the Plaintiff's Side
Abby Zwerner’s lawyer emphasized the critical impact of firearms in such incidents. Kevin Biniazan addressed the jury on Wednesday, stating:
“A gun changes everything. It was the defendant Ebony Parker’s duty, as an assistant principal at the time, to ensure campus safety after concerns about a child carrying a gun were raised. You stop and investigate. You get to the bottom of it. You get to the bottom of that backpack. You get to the bottom of his pockets, whatever it is. You get to the bottom of it to know whether that gun is real and on campus so you can deal with it. But that’s not what happened.”
Defense Argument and Trial Details
Ebony Parker is accused of neglecting warnings that the student had a gun at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News in January 2023. Parker’s lawyers maintain that it was unimaginable for a child so young to bring a gun and carry out a shooting.
Parker did not testify during the trial but was present throughout. Her attorney Daniel Hogan remarked earlier in the proceedings:
“You will be able to judge for yourself whether or not this was foreseeable. That’s the heart of this case.”
In his closing remarks, Biniazan directly challenged this defense position.
Case Significance
This lawsuit could define responsibility boundaries in school shootings, focusing on preventive obligations of school officials.
Summary: The lawsuit against an assistant principal for alleged negligence in a school shooting incident highlights critical debates on accountability and prevention in school safety.