A former teacher shot by her 6-year-old student wins a $10 million jury verdict
In Newport News, Virginia, a jury awarded $10 million to former Richneck Elementary School teacher Abby Zwerner, who was shot by her 6-year-old student in January 2023. The verdict was returned against former assistant principal Ebony Parker, whom Zwerner accused of ignoring multiple warnings that the child had a gun.
Zwerner’s lawsuit initially sought $40 million in damages. She suffered serious injuries from the shooting: a bullet damaged her left hand, narrowly missed her heart, and remains lodged in her chest. She spent nearly two weeks in the hospital and underwent six surgeries, though full use of her left hand has not returned.
“Abby Zwerner was shot in January 2023 as she sat at a reading table in her first-grade classroom.”
The case focused on Parker as the sole defendant after a judge dismissed the superintendent and principal from the lawsuit. Prosecutors and the public expressed deep concern over how such a young child was able to access a firearm and bring it to school, sparking national debate on school safety and gun responsibility.
Community Impact
The incident sent shockwaves through the tight-knit city of Newport News, a community known for its military shipbuilding. Across the nation, educators and parents questioned the systems in place meant to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
Verdict Significance
The $10 million award underscores the jury’s conclusion that negligence played a direct role in the event, marking a major legal and moral statement about institutional accountability in school safety oversight.
Author’s summary: The Virginia jury’s $10 million verdict in favor of Abby Zwerner highlights the grave consequences of ignored warnings and broadens the national conversation on school safety and accountability.