6-year-old shoots teacher at Virginia elementary school

6-year-old shot teacher at Newport News, Virginia, elementary school, police say

"This was not an accidental shooting," the Newport News police chief told reporters.

www.cbsnews.com

Newport News shooting: 6-year-old shot teacher at Virginia elementary…

archived 6 Jan 2023 23:42:00 UTC

archive.ph

A 6-year-old student shot a teacher during an altercation at a Virginia elementary school on Friday, police said. No students were injured in the incident at Richneck Elementary School, Newport News police said in a statement.

"This was not an accidental shooting," Police Chief Steve Drew told reporters during an evening press conference.

The chief said the teacher, a woman in her 30s, suffered what he described as a life-threatening gunshot wound and was taken to a hospital.

The boy was taken into custody, the chief said. No one else was involved in the incident, he said. "We have been in contact with our commonwealth attorney and some other entities to help us best get services to this young man," Drew said.

The chief said a handgun was used in the altercation and he wanted to know where it came from.

The shooting was isolated to a classroom at the school, Drew said.

"This was not a situation where we had a student, or any other individuals, going up and down the halls actively firing in a long shooting incident," Drew said.

Mayor Phillip Jones said the incident "hurts my heart."

"It's a dark day for Newport News," Jones said. "We're going to learn from this, and we're going to come back stronger."

The school district had said parents and guardians could pick up children at the school's gym.

 

[duckbutter&toejamsandwich]

Ver archivo adjunto 4227726

"Ha ha! Dumb bitch got what she deserved." - My wife, 2023.

Well, maybe if you stopped filling her head with a constant litany of unsupported stories of racism and hate she wouldn't feel that way.

 

[Iron Jaguar]

Well, maybe if you stopped filling her head with a constant litany of unsupported stories of racism and hate she wouldn't feel that way.

Or maybe if she stopped looking at what's actually happening in the world and coming to her own conclusions, she would be like your wife and her boyfriend and her boyfriend's son.

 

[LostMy1stAccount]

She's even stupider than I expected. and just watch, if she recovers she'll defend the kid and act like hes the victim here and how he shouldn't be punished for what he did, cause its totally because he's black that he's getting punished nevermind the fact he brought a gun to school and shot me

Her trying to take the gun away and getting shot as a result doesn't explain why he brought it to the school in the first place or what he did for her to notice it and try to take it from him. Something is off here. He didn't shoot at any students or anyone else so it wasn't him going columbine, yet he clearly took it out for some reason and she was close enough to see him do it, so I suspect it still has something to do with her

That said, why the fuck was she trying to take it away from him at all? She should have called the office, had them call the cops and have them deal with it. Trying to take it got her shot and could have gotten others shot as well. Ten bucks this feeds directly in to what she said in that screenshot @Iron Jaguar posted. She didn't want the cops or the school getting involved cause he's black and muh racism so she was going to take it and quietly make the gun disappear or surrender it to the cops saying she found it or some shit, so the kid wouldn't get in trouble, and try to give him a 'stern talking to' about why its inappropriate to bring a fucking gun to class and it backfired on her. She comes off as exactly the type of idiot woman to do that

No matter how this ends the school needs to fire her ass for doing something stupid that resulted in a shooting instead of involving the authorities. There is no way the school doesn't have procedures teachers are required to follow in those situations. Every school does at this point

Maybe I'm a little naive here, but I don't think the kid brought the gun with him out of malice.
Probably just wanted to show of to the other kids in school and when the teacher saw him take out the gun, she probably assumed the worst and wanted to protect the students (as a teacher should).
Imagine her calling the office, waiting for the cops to arrive and in the meantime an innocent child gets shot. This would be way worse than what happened.

 

[duckbutter&toejamsandwich]

Or maybe if she stopped looking at what's actually happening in the world and coming to her own conclusions, she would be like your wife and her boyfriend and her boyfriend's son.

I was referring to the teacher helping to fill the little girls head with bullshit stories about how everyone is racist.

 

[Maldavius Figtree]

That's not the mother of the shooter.

? Nobody said that

 

[BikeLock]

... 'stern talking to' about why its inappropriate to bring a fucking gun to class and it backfired on her.

Technically the gun fired on her...

 

[None Drunk Username]

So ... is the mom or anyone actually going to get in trouble for this? I was under the impression that if a child gets a hold of a parents firearm it's generally the parent's fault because it shows they didn't properly lock it up.

 

[Cpl. Long Dong Silver]

Ver archivo adjunto 4227726

"Ha ha! Dumb bitch got what she deserved." - My wife, 2023.

Too bad she didn't die.

 

[Sigma_Rizzler]

Ver archivo adjunto 4227726

"Ha ha! Dumb bitch got what she deserved." - My wife, 2023.

How brave of her to have every P.C. opinion.......and then get shot for it, lmao.
Someone else posted about how she probably sperged out upon seeing the gun and grabbed for it like the libshit she is only to cause the kid to yank it backwards and fire. A kid who brings a gun to school is no good already regardless of the age, so hopefully the kid never lives this down, the mom gets arrested and the teacher already fucked around and found out. Justice served on all fronts. Of course, nobody will place the blame on any of the many retards involved in the situation. Guns will be attacked yet again.

 

[Iron Jaguar]

hopefully the kid never lives this down, the mom gets arrested

I'd like to think so too but, well, niggers.

 

[Sigma_Rizzler]

I'd like to think so too but, well, niggers.

Precisely. I can't say that I'll be shocked if nothing at all comes of this. The only reason it won't result in a larger media hubbub is due to the kid and family being niggos. I'm sure that the higher ups are frothing at the mouth to use this event in their propaganda but are getting blue-balled as fuck being unable to make an example of a black kid.

 

[Oilspill Battery]

This only thing that could have stopped this bad kid with a gun is a good kid with a gun.

 

[WonderWino]

Abby Zwerner: Six-year-old who shot his teacher used mother's gun

Abby Zwerner, 25, made sure students were safe even after she was shot, police chief said.

ca.news.yahoo.com

A six-year-old child used his mother's legally purchased handgun to shoot his teacher at a US school, police said.

Legally purchased, but definitely not legally stored considering the kid got ahold of it while it was loaded

Chief Drew said the child fired one round at his teacher. He added that the "shooting was not accidental, it was intentional", and that it took place while Ms Zwerner was giving a lesson.

So it was intentional, which means she must have done something to piss the kid off enough to bring a gun in and shoot her. Not that i'm necessarily buying what the cops are saying because it would be based on what she told them, and given her previous statements i'm inclined to believe she would lie about things like getting shot while trying to take the gun and keep it quiet

Ms Zwerner was struck through her hand and into her upper chest, Chief Drew said. She then made sure her students were safely outside the classroom, before making her way down to the school's administration office to call for help, he said.

"She turned around to make sure that every one of those students was safe," Chief Drew said.

As the building was placed under lockdown, a woman who was picking up her grandchildren saw Ms Zwerner appear in the doorway of the school's front office.

Lowanda Sample-Rusk told the New York Times: "She said, 'Call 911, I've been shot.' And then she fainted."

So..... they're claiming she was shot, in the chest, in a room full of people, in a school where the shot would have been heard in neighboring rooms.....and the neither the shot nor the inevitable reaction of the kids freaking out drew enough attention for anyone to show up wondering what the fuck was going on? and to top that off she calmly escorted the students out and then had to get herself down to the admin office - still not being seen or heard by anyone apparently, until a random woman who just happened to be there to pick up a student saw her and called for help after the teacher, before any other staff or students noticed?

To quote simon:

That. Did. Not. Happen. As. Claimed

No fucking way that situation went over like that. She's lying and so is the school, and as a result the cops are either bsing or taking her word for it. Now i'm absolutely certain I was right about her covering up for the little shit so he doesn't get in as much trouble as he should

 

[Amber the Hedgehog]

So it was intentional, which means she must have done something to piss the kid off enough to bring a gun in and shoot her. Not that i'm necessarily buying what the cops are saying because it would be based on what she told them, and given her previous statements i'm inclined to believe she would lie about things like getting shot while trying to take the gun and keep it quiet

To be fair he is six, six year olds aren't known for being completely reasonable. He could have been super pissed from getting a bad grade, told to be quiet during class or getting caught bullying another student. Nothing that actually deserved to be killed but kids gave a tendency of making a mountain out of a mole hill. I'm not saying that what happened but it really could have been just a kid with psychopathic tendencies acting out and her doing normal teacher things.

So..... they're claiming she was shot, in the chest, in a room full of people, in a school where the shot would have been heard in neighboring rooms.....and the neither the shot nor the inevitable reaction of the kids freaking out drew enough attention for anyone to show up wondering what the fuck was going on? and to top that off she calmly escorted the students out and then had to get herself down to the admin office - still not being seen or heard by anyone apparently, until a random woman who just happened to be there to pick up a student saw her and called for help after the teacher, before any other staff or students noticed?

Adrenaline is a hell of drug and most of that could have happened in seconds to minutes depending on the distances in the school. While we are definitely missing information the basics aren't that off what has happened in other crises and accidents. People in extreme situations often go to an autopilot mode and can be surprisingly calm and colected despite absolutely horrific circumstances and injuries. They genuinely don't register that fucked up stuff is going on until after the fact. In this sort of situation the teacher's reaction would have been mirrored by most of the students because that's what kids normally and naturally do. If she went to a calm panic then the kids probably followed her example. Again not saying that's what definitely happened, just it's possible.

People who aren't used to guns often don't recognize the noice when it's unexpected. They notice the noice but don't connect it to gun being shoot and so have muted reaction of confusion. They just don't know to panic because they don't know what's going on and what they should do. Quite often they end just filing it under a wierd loud noice, maybe someone dropped something, and go on their life none of the wiser.

 

[notafederalagent]

Superintendent: 6-year-old’s backpack searched before Richneck shooting
WAVY-TV (archive.ph)
By Michelle Wolf
2023-01-13 12:11:18GMT

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — Newport News Public Schools has revealed new information in the shooting of a teacher at Richneck Elementary School.

During a virtual Town Hall with Richneck parents on Thursday, officials say that at least one administrator knew that the six-year-old student may have had a weapon on him hours before the shooting happened.

Thursday’s Town Hall was for Richneck parents only but a parent shared their access link with 10 On Your Side.

Superintendent Dr. George Parker revealed that there was a report that the boy might have had a weapon on him when he got to school Friday morning.

His backpack was searched, but nothing was found. Two and a half hours later, police were storming the school after that boy shot his first-grade teacher.

“At least one administrator was notified of a possible weapon,” said Dr. Parker.

The Newport News School Board revealed in a Thursday news conference that administrative changes would be taking place at Richneck and would be communicated to parents in the Town Hall. During the Town Hall, Dr. Parker would not say what those administrative changes are but said the district is reviewing the timeline that an administrator was notified about a possible weapon.

The superintendent told parents that he’s been in contact with Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, for advice on how to proceed. Last May, 19 children and two adults were killed in a shooting at Robb Elementary.

“We’ve been in contact with Uvalde in Texas who have been very gracious in communicating with us,” Dr. Parker stated.

After three school shootings in three years, Newport News Public Schools is changing the way the district handles security. Dr. Parker told parents he’s considering requiring clear plastic backpacks for Richneck students that would be purchased by the district.

Richneck Elementary is also in the process of adding a separation wall and doors to the 2nd-grade hallway and will install permanent metal detectors. Dr. Parker also shared plans to reconstruct the school’s front entrance creating a working buzzer system and double entranceway so staff can see who is trying to enter the building.

In a news conference hours earlier, school board chair Lisa Surles-Law announced the district’s plan to add permanent metal detectors in all division schools. Funding was just secured on Wednesday by the school board for 90 state-of-the-art devices. The detectors can identify weapons without slowing down morning arrivals.

“So we just got our approval to purchase them yesterday. We are in the process of making those orders. We have requested that we get the ones for Richneck immediately,” Surles-Law stated.

The move, a big step in security measures that Dr. Parker hinted at during Monday’s joint news conference with police and city leaders regarding Richneck.

Dr. Parker addressed the public saying the shooting at Richneck was 100% preventable and he would be re-evaluating his stance on fixed metal detection. After the shooting at Heritage High School in 2021, Dr. Parker told 10 On Your Side he did not support fixed metal detectors because he did not want school to feel like a prison for students when it should be a place of learning.

Parent Tom Aman praised the district’s decision to purchase metal detectors.

“Metal detectors in every school and every single entry-way is a step. Empowering our teachers to take back their classrooms and get rid of disruptive students is a start. But once again, it comes back to the culture. If the teachers don’t feel like they’re being heard and if the teachers and the students don’t feel safe, they can’t teach and they can’t learn,” Aman told 10 On Your Side.

In the meantime, Dr. Parker told Richneck parents the district is still working on when students can go back to class.

“We want to make sure that we have measures in place that will allow our faculty and our students and you our parents to feel confident that your student is entering a safe building on a daily basis,” Dr. Parker said.

 

[KiwiFuzz]

Metal detectors at the elementary school?

That's fucked up.

 

[BikeLock]

Family speaks out about their budding crime problem err I mean child who shot his teacher.

Family of 6-year-old who shot teacher speaks out for 1st time

The family of the 6-year-old boy accused of shooting and injuring a teacher at his Newport News, Virginia, elementary school is speaking out.

abcnews.go.com

The family of the 6-year-old boy accused of shooting a teacher at his Virginia elementary school is speaking out for the first time.

The family said the "firearm our son accessed was secured."

The 6-year-old, who has not been named publicly, allegedly took a handgun from his home on Jan. 6, put it in his backpack and brought it to Richneck Elementary School in Newport News. He allegedly shot and wounded 25-year-old teacher Abigail Zwerner in a first grade classroom in an "intentional" act, according to police.

https://sneed.abcnews.com/images/US/richneck-elementary-2-gty-bb-230119_1674147833430_hpEmbed_3x2_992.jpg
A side door warns visitors to stop at Richneck Elementary School, Jan. 7, 2023, in Newport News, Va.
Jay Paul/Getty Images

MORE: Parents vent frustration at school board after 6-year-old shoots teacher in Newport News, Virginia​

Police said the 9 mm Taurus pistol was legally purchased by the boy's mother.

The 6-year-old's family released a statement through a spokesperson, saying, "Our family has always been committed to responsible gun ownership and keeping firearms out of the reach of children."


"We have been cooperating with local and federal law enforcement to understand how this could have happened," the family said.

https://sneed.abcnews.com/images/US/richneck-elementary-3-ap-bb-230119_1674147887351_hpEmbed_3x2_992.jpg
Messages of support for teacher Abby Zwerner, who was shot by a 6 year old student, grace the front door of Richneck Elementary School, Jan. 9, 2023, in Newport News, Va.
John C. Clark/AP
No one has been charged and the investigation is ongoing. Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew said Wednesday that interviews with children who were in the classroom should be completed next week. He did not give an exact date on when the investigation would be completed or if charges would be filed.

About 16 to 20 students were in the room at the time of the shooting and none of them were physically injured, officials said. After Zwerner was shot, she ushered all of her students out of the classroom, according to police. Drew call her "a hero" who "saved lives."

MORE: Virginia school shooting: 6-year-old brought gun in backpack, fired during instruction​

The 6-year-old's family said, "Our heart goes out to our son’s teacher and we pray for her healing in the aftermath of such an unimaginable tragedy as she selflessly served our son and the children in the school. She has worked diligently and compassionately to support our family as we sought the best education and learning environment for our son."

Their son "suffers from an acute disability and was under a care plan at the school that included his mother or father attending school with him and accompanying him to class every day," the family said. "The week of the shooting was the first week when we were not in class with him. We will regret our absence on this day for the rest of our lives."

https://sneed.abcnews.com/images/US/richneck-elementary-1-gty-bb-230119_1674147510651_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg
A school sign wishing students a "Happy New Year" is seen outside Richneck Elementary School, Jan.7, 2023, in Newport News, Va.
Jay Paul/Getty Images
The family said the 6-year-old is receiving treatment at a hospital.

"We continue to pray for his teacher’s full recovery, and for her loved ones who are undoubtedly upset and concerned," the family said. "At the same time, we love our son and are asking that you please include him and our family in your prayers."

Zwerner was released from the hospital early this week and will continue to receive outpatient treatment, according to a statement released Thursday by the Riverside Health System.

"She continues her recovery as an outpatient with the support of family, friends, and health professionals," the statement said.

Karen Lynch, a Richneck school's administrator, sent a letter to parents Thursday informing them that the school will remain closed next week.


"Thank you for your patience as we spend this time ensuring safety measures are addressed before school reopens," she wrote in the letter.

ABC News' Beatrice Peterson, Caroline Guthrie and Davone Morales contributed to this report.

Weird how they don't have any pictures or vid of the family, wonder why?

The family said the "firearm our son accessed was secured."

Either their 6-year old with a "learning disability" is an expert safe cracker, or it wasn't. Simple as.

 

[heathercho]

Their son "suffers from an acute disability and was under a care plan at the school that included his mother or father attending school with him and accompanying him to class every day," the family said. "The week of the shooting was the first week when we were not in class with him. We will regret our absence on this day for the rest of our lives."

Chris didn't even need this and he's a mother fucker.

That kid shouldn't be mainstreamed. He should be in a tard school or a tardspital. Not roaming around free with normal people. Wtf kinda disability is this? What a huge burden.

 

[Diana Moon Glampers]

This kid sounds like he just sort of came out wrong. Had to be with a parent (and lives in a two parent household where both parents are involved enough to do this!) every single day, and the first week he doesn't have that, he shoots a teacher? Christ.

The thing we have to understand is that in a country with 4 million six year olds, one of them has got to be the worst fucking one. I wonder if he was from an orphanage or similar. The kids with RAD can be incredibly terrifying and they don't have any regard for safety or (especially at 6) ability to rein in their violent impulses.

 

[notafederalagent]

The kids with RAD can be incredibly terrifying and they don't have any regard for safety or (especially at 6) ability to rein in their violent impulses.

Does RAD stand for Raging African Disease? I've seen enough of them easily set off into a violent rage enough for it to be an actual medical term.