Abby Zwerner, a former teacher from Virginia, testified in court on Thursday regarding a life-changing incident where she was shot by a 6-year-old student in her classroom at Richneck Elementary School in January 2023. Zwerner, who is pursuing a $40 million lawsuit against the school's former assistant principal for allegedly ignoring warnings about the child possessing a firearm, described her traumatic experience, stating, I thought I had died. I thought I was either on my way to heaven or in heaven.
The shooting incident sent shockwaves through the educational community and beyond, raising urgent questions about gun access for such a young child. Zwerner suffered critical injuries, including a gunshot wound to her hand and chest, which led to multiple surgeries and a lengthy hospital stay.
I spent nearly two weeks in the hospital, and a bullet remains lodged in my chest, Zwerner disclosed, reflecting on her painful journey towards recovery. No longer able to teach, she has retrained as a licensed cosmetologist.
Former assistant principal Ebony Parker, the sole defendant in the lawsuit, is accused of failing to take action despite receiving multiple reports about the student's access to a firearm prior to the shooting. Parker faces additional criminal charges of felony child neglect, each carrying a potential five-year prison sentence upon conviction.
Meanwhile, the child's mother has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison for felony child neglect and federal weapons charges after it was revealed that her son accessed her handgun from a high location in their home. The case has sparked widespread concern regarding the safety and security measures in schools and the responsibilities of adults in preventing such tragic incidents.
The shooting incident sent shockwaves through the educational community and beyond, raising urgent questions about gun access for such a young child. Zwerner suffered critical injuries, including a gunshot wound to her hand and chest, which led to multiple surgeries and a lengthy hospital stay.
I spent nearly two weeks in the hospital, and a bullet remains lodged in my chest, Zwerner disclosed, reflecting on her painful journey towards recovery. No longer able to teach, she has retrained as a licensed cosmetologist.
Former assistant principal Ebony Parker, the sole defendant in the lawsuit, is accused of failing to take action despite receiving multiple reports about the student's access to a firearm prior to the shooting. Parker faces additional criminal charges of felony child neglect, each carrying a potential five-year prison sentence upon conviction.
Meanwhile, the child's mother has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison for felony child neglect and federal weapons charges after it was revealed that her son accessed her handgun from a high location in their home. The case has sparked widespread concern regarding the safety and security measures in schools and the responsibilities of adults in preventing such tragic incidents.
