A teacher in the US expressed her concerns about a student in her class through emails to authorities, just two months prior to the same student shooting her in the classroom. The teacher had mentioned that she was “not comfortable” with the boy.
Abigail Zwerner, a teacher who was shot by a 6-year-old student, had raised concerns about the child’s behavior to school administrators before the shooting. Ms. Zwerner reported two incidents involving the student in emails sent on November 22, just two months prior to the shooting at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia.
The incidents included the child allegedly flipping off a classmate and pushing another student to the floor. In the email, Zwerner expressed her discomfort with the child returning to her classroom. The emails were sent to then-Principal Briana Foster Newton and then-Assistant Principal Ebony Parker.
Before the shooting at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, teacher Abigail Zwerner reported concerning behavior by the six-year-old student in emails to her superiors. She detailed incidents of the student flipping off a classmate and pushing another, leading her to express that she felt “uncomfortable” with him returning to her classroom.
Assistant principal Ebony Parker recommended scheduling a meeting with the boy’s father to address the situation. On the day of the shooting, Zwerner reportedly texted a loved one about the boy carrying a gun in his backpack. After the incident, the boy’s family revealed he had an acute disability and was under a care plan that required a parent to accompany him to school and class daily.
The family of the boy who shot a teacher in a US classroom expressed regret for their absence on the day of the incident. They stated that the week of the shooting was the first week that they were not in the classroom with the boy and that they would regret it for the rest of their lives.
This news followed the statement by the lawyer of the former principal, Briana Foster Newton, who claimed that she was not informed about the student having a gun on the day of the shooting. The lawyer added that those who were aware of the presence of the gun on the premises did not inform Ms. Newton, which is far from the truth.
The principal and assistant principal of the school both resigned after it was reported that they had been warned three times that day about the student carrying a weapon.
Ms Zwerner’s lawyer, Diane Toscano, claimed that school staff had informed administrators about the boy having a gun, but their warnings were ignored. As a result, Ms Zwerner plans to file a lawsuit against the school district for the shooting, which she believes was entirely preventable.
Despite being shot in the chest and hand, the brave teacher still managed to evacuate her students from the classroom to safety before receiving medical attention. The Virginia Senate honored Ms Zwerner’s bravery by passing a resolution praising her actions. The resolution noted that despite being injured, she was the last to leave the classroom, ensuring all her students were safe, and then immediately alerted the school administrator to call for help.
According to authorities, the 9mm gun used in the shooting was legally purchased by the boy’s mother, who has not been charged with any crime.