Teacher Awarded $10 Million in Civil Suit After Classroom Shooting
Abby Zwerner won a significant lawsuit against Newport News Public Schools after being shot by a 6-year-old student. The incident occurred in January 2023 at Richneck Elementary School, where Zwerner was teaching first grade.
Details of the Incident and Aftermath
Zwerner was shot in the hand and chest while sitting at a reading table. She spent nearly two weeks hospitalized and underwent six surgeries. A bullet narrowly missed her heart and remains lodged in her chest, leaving her without full use of her left hand.
The shooting deeply unsettled the military shipbuilding community and the nation, raising concerns about how a young child obtained a firearm.
Legal Proceedings and Charges
- Abby Zwerner filed a $40 million lawsuit against Newport News Public Schools, which has now resulted in a $10 million award.
- Former assistant principal Ebony Parker, named as a defendant, faces criminal charges including eight counts of felony child abuse and neglect, corresponding to the bullets in the child’s gun.
- Parker’s jury trial is scheduled to begin in November.
- The child’s mother, Deja Taylor, is serving prison time after pleading guilty to related federal and state charges.
"The shooting sent shock waves through the military shipbuilding community and the country, with many wondering how a child so young could access a gun and shoot his teacher."
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Author’s summary: Abby Zwerner’s $10 million lawsuit victory highlights the grave consequences of a tragic shooting by a 6-year-old, triggering criminal charges against school staff and the child’s mother.