Virginia law does not allow 6-year-olds to be tried as adults. Abby Zwerner, 25, had life-threatening injuries but is now continuing to improve in hospital. Another message from a teacher obtained by the Post details disturbing behavior by the student before the shooting. Zwerner said in the interview that she's had some days when she "can't get up out of bed," while others is is able to go about her day and make it to appointments. Police believe a 6-year-old student intentionally shot and injured his first grade teacher, 25-year-old Abby Zwerner. Zwerner first alerted school officials between 11:15 and 11:30 am, stating that the student had threatened to beat up another student. The school system's superintendent, George Parker III, said at a virtual town hall this month that the boy had come to school late and that his book bag was inspected when he arrived at the office to sign in, said parents who watched the meeting. "Listen to your teachers. Price, the school district spokeswoman, told the Post that she couldn't "share any information in a childs educational record" and cited the police investigation and the internal inquiry by the school. Chief Drew held a press conference at 4 p.m. on Jan. 9. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. If he has significant behaviors, then he should have had a one-on-one aide escorting him to school, said Howard. Drew has said that the childs mother bought the 9 mm Taurus firearm used in the shooting legally and that the boy took the gun from his home. Biden announces aggressive new, Newsfeed Now: Biden to launch new plan against COVID-19, Newsfeed Now: Health experts concerned about COVID-19, Newsfeed Now: Pres. [19] Zwerner subsequently started litigation against the Newport News School Board and three former school district officials,[24] seeking damages of $40 million. In the statement, the family said they are praying for Abby Zwerner. Shooting Range in Bucharest with Hotel Pickup. FILE - Signs stand outside Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Va., Jan. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Denise Lavoie, File) - IE 11 is not supported. ", POLICE CHIEF, MAYOR HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE. teacher shot by student detailed further in lawsuit. They found one spent shell casing, a backpack, a cellphone, and a 9 millimeter Taurus handgun. SchoolDigger Rank: 810th of 1,109 Virginia Elementary Schools. We thank her for her courage, grace and sacrifice., 10 On Your Side reached out to Newport News Police about the letter Thursday. News 3 learned about two additional lawsuits being filed against Newport News Schools regarding the Richneck shooting. RICHNECK STUDENTS RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM. 6-year-old student at Richneck Elementary School. The boy used a legally obtained firearm that was owned by his mother and kept in the house. Failures in accountability: Abby Zwerners lawyer ready to file lawsuit, Day Richneck Elem. Could new DNA tech crack the JonBenet Ramsey case? Her employment with NNPS ended on June 12 - the last day of her contract, according to the spokesperson. ABBY ZWERNER'S LAWYER GIVES FIRST PUBLIC STATEMENT. [4], Reports about the student's previous conduct included behavioral issues at school: cursing staff, trying to whip students with his belt, and choking a teacher. The Virginia teacher who was shot by her 6-year-old student texted a loved one before she was wounded that the boy was armed and that school officials were failing to act, according to a source close to the situation. NNPS hosted a press conference and provided security updates following the shooting at Richneck Elementary School. NEWPORT NEWS, Va. The mother of a 6-year-old boy who shot a teacher at Virginia's Richneck Elementary School in January pleaded guilty to federal gun charges Monday, and a filing by . Desiree's daughter watched in horror as her 6-year-old classmate shot her beloved teacher. The boy shot and wounded the teacher in a first-grade classroom on Friday at Richneck Elementary School, according to authorities. A third teacher told an administrator shortly before 1 p.m. that the boy showed a student the gun at recess and "threatened to shoot him if he told anybody," Toscano said. Mere weeks after a domestic . Chief Drew told News 3 the 6-year-old assaulted two staff members the day of the shooting. Desiree sobbed at the podium during her remarks, with Lisa R. Surles-Law, chair of the school board, leaving her seat to console the mother. Deja Taylor, the mother of the 6-year-old boy who shot his teacher at Richneck Elementary School, turned herself into custody. At about 2 p.m., the authorities. Toscano called Zwerner the "best of us," a dedicated teacher who endured the unthinkable: "being shot purposely by a 6-year-old student in front of her first-grade class while teaching.". [12], Immediately after being shot, Zwerner escorted all of her students out of the classroom and away from the shooter[13] while another staff member, according to police, restrained the shooter until police took him into juvenile detention. He said the student and teacher had known each other in a classroom setting. Newport News prosecutors also asked a Circuit Court judge to impanel a "special grand jury" to "continue the investigation into any security issues that may have contributed to this shooting.". NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) For the first time, the family of a six-year-old accused of shooting his first-grade teacher at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News on January 6 has issued a statement. He said the boy just turned 7 years old this month and is . 100 Followers, 8 Following, 67 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Richneck Elementary (@richneck_elem) richneck_elem. Police Chief Steve Drew said the shooting was not accidental and was part of an altercation but didn't elaborate further. Our family has always been committed to responsible gun ownership and keeping firearms out of the reach of children. Officers and faculty took students to the gymnasium where they stayed until they were reunited with their families. The shooting by a 6-year-old student sent a teacher to the hospital. Police respond to a shooting at Richneck Elementary School, Friday, in Newport News, Va. On the week of the shooting, the family stated that it was the first week when they were not with the child. A teacher was injured in a shooting Jan. 6, 2023, at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, according to police and school officials. The school announced it would be closed the following Monday. "This should have been isolated beforehand to prevent Ms. Zwerner from getting hurt, because she was defending and protecting your children," Desiree said. The board said it will also work with the Department of Education to figure out the next steps for students at Richneck Elementary School. We have been cooperating with local and federal law enforcement to understand how this could have happened. A second teacher went to a school administrator at 12:30 p.m. and said the teacher had taken it upon herself to search the boy's backpack. NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) The Newport News Police Department responded to Richneck Elementary School for reports of a teacher shot on Jan. 6. "You guys failed her on a multitude of levels. For the second week after the shooting, Richneck Elementary School remained closed for students after the shooting. She had registered that the room was no longer safe for her students and escorted them out. In the letter, the family stated that they have been cooperating with local and federal law enforcement. Thats especially true when it comes to 4K TVs. (modern), Six-year-old boy in police custody after shooting Virginia school teacher video, Woman shot dead in New York state after friend drove into wrong driveway, Tragedy upon tragedy: why 39 US mass shootings already this year is just the start, Starmer calls for shotgun ownership rethink following Euston shooting, Paul Auster: The right to own a gun in the US is seen as a kind of holy grail, Paul Auster: The gun that killed my grandfather was the same gun that ruined my fathers life, Nofight or warning before six-year-old boy shot teacher, say Virginia police, Shooting of teacher by six-year-old a red flag for US, says mayor. Parents, teachers and community members made their frustrations known at a Newport News, Virginia, school board meeting Tuesday night after a 6-year-old student intentionally shot his first grade teacher during class earlier this month. At the same time, we love our son and are asking that you please include him and our family in your prayers. She has worked diligently and compassionately to support our family as we sought the best education and learning environment for our son. Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones said the condition of the teacher, a woman in her 30s, is "trending in a positive direction" as she remains hospitalized. There are still so many questions to be answered. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Her condition had improved somewhat by late afternoon, Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew said. Newport News Public Schools spokesperson Michelle Price told News 3 Karen Lynch is only taking over some responsibilities of the principal, but she would not be an interim principal and she would not be completely filling the role. She said Zwerner was her sons favorite teacher. To point you in the right direction, weve researched the best deals retailers have to offer during this years 4th of July sales events. The mother of the 6-year-old Richneck Elementary School student who shot his teacher earlier this year has turned herself in, the Newport News Sheriff's Office said. Hogg asked. Zwerner's classroom where the shooting happened remained closed, and the class was moved to a new classroom. Police believe a 6-year-old student. The teacher a woman in her 30s suffered life-threatening injuries. Kasey Sypolt, a Richneck parent, spoke directly to Newport News Superintendent Dr. George Parker and the school board members, saying, "I hope that none of you ever have to receive a text message from your elementary school child, but he's terrified. One man at the reunification center, who has a nephew at Richneck Elementary, told us, "When I pulled up there was a bunch of people gathered, trying to get their children. She also confirmed that Ellenson is currently representing the family. NEWPORT NEWS SCHOOL BOARD VOTES TO FIRE SUPERINTENDENT. Amazons Prime Day is basically summers Black Friday with massive discounts. The first-grade teacher who was shot by her 6-year-old student at the Virginia school has resigned from her position, school officials said Tuesday, June 13, more than two months after she sued the district for $40 million. Spokesperson Angela Arcieri said Zwerner "continues her recovery as an outpatient with the support of family, friends, and health professionals. School, Vigil aims to lift up teacher in hospital after shooting, Major shakeup in leadership at Richneck Elementary School, Parents say gun son used in Richneck shooting was secured, CNU dedicate basketball game to Richneck Elementary, 2 more lawsuits filed against Newport News schools after Richneck Elem. The family's statement was released by an attorney, and the family was not identified. They transported her to a local hospital at 2:11 p.m. After the 6-year-old suspected of the shooting was taken into custody, officers began clearing Richneck Elementary School and evacuating students. The commonwealths attorneys office will determine if the childs mother will face charges, Chief Drew added. Toscano told News 3 they would file the lawsuit against Newport News Public Schools in two weeks. NEWPORT NEWS POLICE SAY 6-YEAR-OLD ASSAULTED TWO STAFF MEMBERS DAY OF SHOOTING. Billy Schuerman/The. [2] The shooting was one of sixteen U.S. school shootings perpetrated by shooters under the age of ten years since 1970. For the first time since the shooting, former principal Briana Foster-Newton issued a statement through her lawyer, Pamela Branch. The week of the shooting was the first week when we were not in class with him. Brittaney Gregory, whose son is in the same class as the shooter at Richneck elementary school in Newport News, Virginia, detailed her son's reaction to the shocking scene to the Washington. She has worked diligently and compassionately to support our family as we sought the best education and learning environment for our son, said the family. Metal detectors will also be installed in the school system's elementary and early childhood centers, but that effort was delayed due to shipping issues. NNPD has not verified the family's statement. Authorities have said the 6-year-old's backpack was searched prior to the shooting after a fellow student said they saw a gun. A message of support for JMU graduate Abby Zwerner from President Alger on behalf of the JMU community. Parents of Richneck Elementary students prepare to sue after teacher shot by 6-year-old - CBS News Watch CBS News U.S. Parents of Richneck Elementary students prepare to sue after teacher. Green t-shirts were sold, with proceeds benefiting Abby Zwerner. Despite her injury, Zwerner evacuated her classroom to safety before going to the schools administrative office and receiving first aid. NNPS spokesperson Michelle Price said all Newport News middle and high schools were now equipped with metal detectors. He said it sounds like this student qualified for whats called an Individualized Education Program, or an IEP. Classes at Richneck elementary were cancelled on Monday and Tuesday following the shooting. [20], The child shooter was arrested and remained in a healthcare facility as of January13, 2023. On March 27, 2023, a mass school shooting occurred at The Covenant School, a Presbyterian Church in America parochial elementary school in the Green Hills neighborhood of Nashville, Tennessee.Aiden Hale (born Audrey Elizabeth Hale), a transgender man and former student of the school, killed three nineyearold children and three adults before being shot and killed by two Metropolitan . Drew said his department handed over the full investigative report to the Newport News Commonwealth's Attorney's Office. Everybody had to get their cars, and they had to drive over to the church. I did not hear from the school until I was already there. Board members voted 5-1. The board would also discuss the appointment of an interim superintendent. The family said the week of the shooting was the first week they did not accompany him. The statement also said the boy 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., Additionally, our son has benefitted from an extensive community of care that also includes his grandparents working alongside us and other caregivers to ensure his needs and accommodations are met. The 2nd Annual Not My Child Stop the Violence Rally was held in Newport News on Jan. 8. 'HERO' GRANT PULLED FROM RICHNECK'S OVERSIGHT. Could new DNA tech crack the JonBenet Ramsey case? Denise Lavoie / AP file Attorney Gene Rossi described the shooting as "a perfect storm of horrible consequences." STUDENT WON'T BE CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED ASSAULT. He said the boy had a handgun in the classroom, and investigators were trying to figure out where he obtained it. Police tape hangs from a sign post outside Richneck Elementary School, January 7, 2023, in Newport News, Virginia. (Billy Schuerman/Virginian-Pilot/AP) The mother of . According to the family, the student is currently under hospital care and receiving the treatment he needs. In the letter, the family stated that the 6-year-old 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.. He was able to provide more details about the NNPDs investigation into the shooting at Richneck Elementary School. Those include the fatal shooting of a fellow student in 2000 in Michigan and shootings that injured other students in 2011 in Texas and 2021 in Mississippi. The child suspect and parents have been interviewed by police. [25] In April 2023, lawyers for the school district filed a motion to dismiss Zwerner's lawsuit, which included claims that her injuries fell under the Virginian Worker's Compensation Act which allowed her to receive benefits but that she had rejected them in favor of the lawsuit. School officials already announced last week that metal detectors would be placed on campus. The source said Tuesday that Abigail Zwerner sent the text about an hour before she was shot on Jan. 6, saying that the student said he had a gun in his backpack and that administrators at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News weren't helping. A juvenile judge would have authority, though, to revoke a parent's custody and place a child under the purview of the Department of Social Services. She was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, but is now recovering. $264.45. Residents of Newport News hold a candlelight vigil in honor of Richneck Elementary School first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner at the School Administration Building in Newport News, Va., Jan. 9, 2023. Richneck Elementary We are a K-5 elementary school located in Newport News, VA. We are so proud of our scholars! Antonio Planas is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. This could include looking at Richneck administrators, the school system, and possibly anyone else and could take months, possibly leading to more indictments, according to the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. We will regret our absence on this day for the rest of our lives. Board member Gary Hunter was the only one to vote against Parker's removal. The 25-year-old teacher, Abby Zwerner, was shot through the hand and into her stomach. The boy shot and wounded the teacher in a first-grade classroom on Friday at Richneck Elementary School, according to authorities. [14], Richneck Elementary School remained closed during the subsequent week. A woman named Desiree, the parent of a student in Zwerner's class, called the teacher an "advocate" for her daughter -- who she said was being bullied at Richneck Elementary School. NEWPORT NEWS, Va. The fallout from the shooting of a teacher by a 6-year-old student in Virginia has prompted a staff shakeup in the Newport News school . "At least one administrator was notified of a possible weapon," Parker said in a video reviewed by NBC News. She was going to confiscate it, and thats when he shot, Gregory told the Post. TWO MORE LAWSUITS FILED AGAINST NEWPORT NEWS SCHOOLS. Grandmother rushes to aid teacher shot at Richneck Elem. Chief Drew said during a Facebook "Chat with the Chief" that detectives wrapped up interviews after weeks of investigating what happened inside the classroom. Listen to them when they're asking for help," she added in an interview with Hampton, Virginia, ABC affiliate WVEC. 205. Its being thoroughly investigated.. Sports Lessons. former principal Briana Foster-Newton issued a statement, civil suit was drafted and was ready to file, Abby Zwerner is no longer employed with NNPS, A 6-year-old suspect, who is a student, is in custody, An injured teacher was taken to Riverside Regional Medical Center, Police deduced that the shooting was not accidental, Abby Zwerner was awake and "talking with family and friends". Attendees spoke openly about gun violence in their communities and brainstormed possible solutions. PUBLIC STATMENT ISSUED BY FORMER RICHNECK PRINCIPAL. Her sentencing was scheduled for October 18. The Newport News school system told parents on Tuesday that several new safety measures would take place at Richneck, including a full-time security guard, a fully staffed front office and access to a security wand. ", Sypolt, who works as a special education teacher in another school district, noted that the shooting "didn't happen because Ms. Zwerner wasn't doing everything that she could to provide support to her students. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Signs outside Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Va., on Jan. 25. When they entered the classroom, they found a 6-year-old child being physically restrained by a school employee. Zwerner, 25, of Williamsburg, was shot in the chest and is now recovering at home. His separation is effective Feb. 1, and he will be replaced by an interim superintendent. Abby Zwerner describes challenging recovery after being shot at Richneck Elem. "We did not have a situation where someone was going around the school shooting," Drew told reporters. [31], Newport News mayor Phillip Jones described the shooting as "a red flag for our country", also saying, "I do think that after this event, there is going to be a nationwide discussion on how these sorts of things can be prevented. This is breaking news and will be updated. We are breaking down what took place that day, and what came in the aftermath, in a timeline of events. You know, a lot of people panicking, a lot of confusion, traffic backed up over there, nobody knew where to get the kids from, so we all had to walk all the way around. The NNPS Leadership Team, the Student Conduct and Discipline Office and the police department have been notified," Lynch said in the letter. Dr. Parker said a search of the boy's backpack found nothing. Our family has always been committed to responsible gun ownership and keeping firearms out of the reach of children. Andrea Hogg, the parent of an eighth grader in the district, asked the school board about their new initiatives. Zwerners twin sister set up aGoFundMe accountto help with her recovery. Parent tip. Students at this school are making average academic progress from one grade to the next compared to students at other schools in the state. Richneck has been closed since the shooting. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Officials at Riverside Regional Medical Center told News 3 Abby Zwerner was released from the hospital. March 8, 2023, 3:07 PM 1:35 A Newport News police officer directs traffic at Richneck Element.Read More John C. Clark/AP, FILE A local prosecutor said Wednesday that he won't charge the 6-year-old boy accused of shooting a teacher at his Virginia elementary school. PARENTS BEGIN ARRIVING AT REUNIFICATION CENTER. The shooting was the first U.S. school shooting of 2023,[1] but the third incident of gun violence in Newport News Public School district in seventeen months. Parents and students were reunited at a gymnasium, Newport News Public Schools said via Facebook. "The road to full recovery will be long, and as her physical condition improves, the psychological wounds cut deeply and remain fresh," Toscano said. [19] Zwerner later resigned on June 13, 2023. Richneck has about 550 students who are in kindergarten through fifth grade, according to the Virginia Department of Education's website. "We already have a teacher shortage and a bus driver shortage. 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