U.S. News
Lawyer of teacher shot by 6-year-old says school ‘failed to act’ on multiple warnings [Video]
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- The lawyer for the teacher who was shot and wounded by a 6-year-old student in Virginia said that the school administrators “failed to act” on multiple reports.
- Attorney Diane Toscano detailed a chilling timeline of the events of the Jan. 6 incident.
- Richneck Elementary School officials were warned three times the 6-year-old was dangerous and had a gun, Toscano said in a news conference.
An attorney for the first-grade teacher shot and wounded by a 6-year-old student in Newport News, Virginia, said that the officials of Richneck Elementary School “failed to act” after being warned three times that the boy was armed.
In a news conference on Wednesday, Attorney Diane Toscano said that her client, 25-year-old teacher Abby Zwerner, and several other teachers told the school administrators on Jan. 6 that the unidentified boy brought a gun to school. Zwerner was shot in the chest that day.
The first report, Toscano said, was made between 11:15 and 11:30 a.m., when Zwerner told administrators that the 6-year-old had threatened to beat up another child. The school did not act on the report, Toscano said. In a news conference on Wednesday,
Around 12:30 p.m., a second unidentified teacher went to school administrators and said that she searched the boy’s backpack, Toscano said, because the boy was suspected to have a gun.
“The teacher then tells that same administrator that she believes the boy put the gun in his pocket before he went outside for recess,” Toscano said. “The administration could not be bothered. The administrator downplayed the report from the teacher and the possibility of a gun, saying, and I quote, ‘Well, he has little pockets.’”
Shortly after 1 p.m., a third teacher went to the administration and said that another student had been found crying and fearful because the 6-year-old had shown the gun to him at recess. He even threatened to shoot him if he told anybody, Toscano added.
A fourth employee reportedly heard about the danger and asked administrators for permission to search the 6-year-old’s backpack, but was denied.
“He was told to wait the situation out, because the school day was almost over,” Toscano said. “Tragically, almost an hour later, violence struck Richneck Elementary School.”
Toscano also said that she informed the Newport News school board that she intends to file a lawsuit on Zwerner’s behalf. She did not say what grounds the lawsuit would be on.
Michelle Price, the director of public information for Newport News Public Schools, said that “since the school’s investigation is ongoing, I cannot comment on the statements presented by Ms. Zwerner’s lawyer at this time.”
On Wednesday, the Newport News School Board voted in a special meeting 5-1 to remove Superintendent George Parker III. He will be relieved of his duties Feb. 1.
Zwerner was shot in front of her other first-grade students; police have described the shooting as “intentional.” She was able to evacuate her classroom and another school employee, who Toscano said was a teacher, restrained the boy.
The boy brought the gun from his home, police have said. His parents have said the gun was “secured,” and it’s not clear how he acquired the weapon.
Zwerner was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries and has been recovering at home since Jan. 19. Toscano said that the bullet remains in Zwerner’s body, and said the teacher continues to undergo surgeries and physical therapy.
It’s not yet clear if the 6-year-old will face charges.
Source: Inside Edition
Ron C
January 27, 2023 at 6:44 pm
Is it also unclear if the Administrator is fired? Seems like in Virginia the adults in the room are being run by the children, WTH?
Michael
January 27, 2023 at 6:50 pm
George Parker III needs to be held accountable for his negligence involving this matter. George Parker III failed to comply to any and all matters concerning this issue.
George Parker III should be arrested and tried for DERELICTION of DUTY.
Stuart Coker
January 27, 2023 at 7:06 pm
I’m sorry. Everyone is mad at the administrator because he ignored several teachers that said the kid had a gun? When did teachers become unable to search and disarm a six year old. Teachers today, school employees in general, are worthless.
C.F. Dolan
January 27, 2023 at 9:36 pm
The PRINCIPAL and school board set the policy. I would bet that any teacher who dared to place a hand on a student for any reason would be sanctioned. She reported the concern to the administration. They should have conducted at least a pat down to determine the presence of a weapon. I hope the upcoming lawsuits are speedy and extremely costly to the admin and school board.
Jimmy Jukebox
January 27, 2023 at 10:31 pm
By hoping For Speedy Law Suit against the School System be prepared to pay higher Taxes Next year to cover the cost.
Public taxes Fund Public School System…..
Be lawsuit happy doesn’t solve anything , teacher will still have a bullet scar if she doesn’t die.
Mercy and Forgiveness and Wisdom To Teach Kids And For Adults To Be Responsible Is A Much Better Plan.
But my plan is A Pipe Dream cause each generation gets dumber and dumber and dumber.
Pray For The School System To Gain Wisdom From The Situation To Avoid something that Was Preventable.
Season341
January 27, 2023 at 9:50 pm
How many schools/buildings does Mr. Parker “superintend”? Only one…this elementary building? How large is this school district? During my many years of teaching, never was a Superintendent actually officed in any of the school buildings…his/her office was in an Administration Building. The “Administrators” in each building included the Principal and his/her Assistants, if any, a Guidance Counselor and the school Nurse. Many school buildings now also have at least one on-site law enforcement officer. It’s difficult to believe that the Superintendent was actually in the Elementary building and received first hand warnings from the teachers. If I were a teacher in this district, I would want the boy and his parents held accountable first. As for firing, the Principal, especially if warned and ignored or down-played the warnings from several teachers should go. And, what is the history of this student’s behavior? Was there a Guidance Counselor on staff who had met and/or worked with him? If so, and he was a “ticking bomb”, the Principal was most certainly aware of impending danger to himself and others, and must have informed the parents. If not, why not? This 6 year old was mentally disturbed due to either poor parenting skills (perhaps abusive), not understanding or being taught the consequences for actions, OR being drugged (or vaccinated) with something that caused him to express extreme hatred and anger. Just the opinion of a “old school” teacher.
George
January 27, 2023 at 7:08 pm
Well HOW MANY SIGNS do you have to see to respond to a potential tragedy??? All people are responsible to report any potential ISSUES so when they do there very best to do that THEN WHY DID THIS SHOOTING HAPPEN??? Charge anyone who did not do there part in stopping this shooting, starting with the parents and any officials involved PERIOD. This is a ELEMENTARY SCHOOL for Christs sake!!!!
James Nice
January 27, 2023 at 9:43 pm
It’s obvious that the gun was not secured. It’s also obvious that all teachers involved deferred to the administration to handle this situation and they were blown off. The administrator should definitely have had a protocol to follow for this situation. I agree that everyone involved shares some responsibility but the administrator should be where the buck stops. The fact that class was nearly over means nothing!
Jimmy Jukebox
January 27, 2023 at 9:54 pm
Parents say: Gun was secured and then Story goes back to school and teachers.
Obviously Either the gun wasn’t secured ,
OR The kid watched a parent open the gun safe and figured out the combination to the Safe.
OR
Gun was in A Locked Box and needed a key and key took the keys off the counter or from parents pants or purse.
The administrator who said: Well he’s got little pockets , Guy who said That is Definitely in Trouble no follow through procedure to investigate.
Teachers and parents and the administration are All dumb.
First Rule OF Survival to come back and live another day is Suspect everyone,
Back in the 1980s Drugs and yes sometimes guns were hidden in with the baby in baby stroller.
Jimmy Jukebox
January 27, 2023 at 10:10 pm
Modern Day television shows and movies have dumbed down not only the school kids , but the parents and school system.
Back years ago television shows made ya think.
Andy Griffith and Barney Fife, Barney doing Check Point Chickie would OF Caught The Kid !!!
Quincy the medical examiner TV show and Emergency 51 in the70s made ya think when watching.
I Never had cable television.
I don’t watch the fake new modern shows they lack such critical thinking skills for an audience.
And don’t get me started on the video Games that Players shoot and shoot and shoot , now and if a kid is abused.
The weak minded kids fall into the trap and get a gun , pow pow ,
Maybe Back in the 1970s when Politicians Taxed Cigarettes and Alcohol so much They Should OF Tax Bullets and Ammunition , pow pow , the violence won’t stop people are to dumb to teach kids,
People are so dumb they don’t even have 4 or more kids anymore if they do it’s a rarity,
The Adults make the world The Kids Live in.
We handed the kids a Messed Up World.
Years ago when I was young any adult so a kid misbehaving he corrected the kid,
Now adays leave my kid alone , I teach my kid is most people’s attitude.
The world Has Grown Cold and Kids Are Only mimicking What They See Adults Doing !!!
We set a bad example for generations, I’d be surprised if Things Change For The Better.
Mike D.
January 28, 2023 at 9:12 am
This is beyond tragic. No. The gun was not secured properly. No. The child wasn’t taught about gun safety as he should have been since there was a gun being kept in the home. No. The school administration did not act accordingly from the first report of violence and the threat of potential violence. Those are the undeniable facts. Speculations : where did the child learn about the guns and violence? Home life? Video games (either played or watched). Is this child on any mind altering medication for any behavioral issues or ADHD?
While the school was negligent; the parents are ultimately responsible for their 6 year olds actions. As humans, our personality matrix and behavioral patterns are 90% developed by the time we are 7. Let’s hope the powers that be can do an overhaul on this young man before he becomes another statistic on a government chart.