In the months following the incident, on January 6th, 2023, in Newport News, Virgina, when Abigail Zwerner, a first-grade teacher at Richneck Elementary School was shot by a six-year-old student, leading to a major investigation into school safety and how the situation unfolded. The student had brought a 9mm semi- automatic pistol from home and shot her in the hand as it lodged in her chest, causing significant injuries, including a collapsed lung. Abby states, “I thought I had died” not knowing that a miracle had happened and she survived.
In April of 2023, Abby, who had survived the shooting had filed a 40$ lawsuit for citing gross negligence against the Newport News School Board and several administrators and assistant principle, Ebony Parker for ignoring these warnings. The lawsuit claims that multiple staff members warned school leaders that the first-grade student might have had a weapon that day, but those warnings were not acted on. Zwerner’s legal team argues that the school failed to follow safety protocols and ignored repeated concerns about the child’s behavior. The board was then dismissed from the case, but Parker remained a defendant.
The child’s mother, Deja Taylor, has also faced legal consequences. She pleaded guilty in federal court to charges connected to failing to secure her firearm properly. She has additionally faced state charges, including child neglect, and will be serving about four years in jail. Prosecutors have argued that the shooting could have been stored safely at home. Her sentencing and appeals have continued to bring attention to the case, sparking discussions about parental responsibility and gun safety laws…