Teacher Shot by Six-Year-Old in Virginia Intends to Sue School Administration

By Vanya D

The fallout is widening in the city of Newport News, Virginia where earlier this month a sixyear-old shot his teacher in her classroom, with a potential lawsuit against the child’s family and administration. Abigail Zwerner, 25, was released from hospital after being shot through the hand and in the chest on the 6th January in Richneck Elementary School. Many have wondered about what legal consequences may follow and for whom.

The attack was allegedly “intentional” and carried out using the student’s mother’s legally purchased gun. The family of the young boy has made a statement saying he suffered from an “acute disability” and the day of the shooting was one of the rare days that he attended school alone, without his parents being present. Virginia law prohibits anyone from carelessly leaving a loaded, unsecured firearm in a way that might endanger a child under 14 years of age and the

On Wednesday, the school board voted to fire district superintendent George Parker, and this was followed by the resignation of the vice principal of the school. A lawyer for the teacher, attorney Diane Toscano said, “On that day, over the course of a few hours, three different timesthree times- school administration was warned by concerned teachers and employees that the boy had a gun on him at school and was threatening people. But the administration could not be bothered.” After complaints that the young boy had a gun in his pocket at recess, the school official allegedly responded “Well, he has little pockets” and refused to search the boy or his backpack. The attorney has announced that she intends to sue the district for “failing to act” despite imminent danger.

The school has been shut since the shooting, with plans to open on Monday. Frustration over gun violence has increased, as yet another school in the US faces a traumatic school shooting. police chief has indicated that the boy’s mother could potentially face charges.