Virginia Jury Awards $10 Million to Teacher Shot by First-Grade Student
A Virginia jury has awarded $10 million in damages to Abby Zwerner, a former first-grade teacher who was shot by a six-year-old student at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, in January 2023.
The ruling came Thursday after a weeklong civil lawsuit trial in which Zwerner, now 28, accused a former school administrator of gross negligence for ignoring multiple warnings that the young boy had brought a gun to school that day.
The verdict marks one of the largest school negligence settlements in Virginia’s history and underscores the ongoing national debate over gun safety, school accountability, and child access to firearms.
Teacher Survived Life-Threatening Gunshot
Zwerner sustained life-threatening injuries when the six-year-old boy fired a single bullet at her as she sat at a reading table in her classroom.
The bullet narrowly missed her heart and became lodged in her chest. She underwent six surgeries and spent nearly two weeks in the hospital, later revealing that she still does not have full use of her left hand.
The emotional trial revisited the horror of that day — when a first-grade classroom became the scene of a shooting that shocked educators and parents across the country.
Despite her recovery, Zwerner told reporters she has no plans to return to teaching and has since transitioned to a career as a licensed cosmetologist.
School Officials Ignored Repeated Warnings
At the center of the lawsuit was Ebony Parker, the assistant principal at Richneck Elementary during the time of the shooting.
Zwerner’s legal team, led by attorney Diane Toscano, argued that Parker repeatedly ignored staff warnings on the morning of the shooting — warnings that a student was suspected of carrying a firearm in his backpack.
“Who would think a six-year-old would bring a gun to school and shoot their teacher?” Toscano asked the jury during closing arguments.
“It was Dr. Parker’s job to believe that possibility and investigate it fully.”
The jury found Parker negligent for failing to take action to protect students and staff despite multiple alerts from teachers and aides.
Parker, who has since resigned from her position, did not testify during the trial.
Legal Outcome and Reaction
The jury’s $10 million verdict fell short of the $40 million Zwerner originally sought, but her attorneys called it a “powerful message” about school safety and accountability.
“This verdict sends a message that what happened at Richneck Elementary was wrong — and it will not be tolerated,” Toscano said after the ruling.
“Every child and teacher deserves a safe environment to learn and teach.”
Zwerner did not address reporters after the decision was announced, but supporters gathered outside the courthouse in Newport News applauded the outcome.
Mother of Student Sentenced to Prison
The mother of the six-year-old shooter, whose identity has been withheld to protect the child, was sentenced to four years in prison earlier this year after pleading guilty to child neglect and firearms charges.
Investigators said the boy accessed his mother’s 9mm handgun by climbing onto a drawer to reach the top of a dresser, where the firearm was kept inside a purse.
Prosecutors noted that the gun had no safety lock and that the child had previously shown behavioral issues, including threats toward other students.
No charges were filed against the child himself, given his age and lack of criminal capacity under Virginia law.
Gun Safety Advocates Call for Stronger Storage Laws
In response to the verdict, Newtown Action Alliance, a nonprofit advocating for stricter gun laws, reiterated its call for safe firearm storage legislation.
“Abby Zwerner was shot by her 6-year-old student using a gun from home,” the group posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“Seventy-six percent of school shooters get their guns from their homes or relatives. #SafeStorageSavesLives #EndGunViolence.”
The organization urged Congress to pass Ethan’s Law, a federal proposal that would mandate secure gun storage in households with minors.
Gun violence prevention groups argue that the tragedy illustrates the devastating consequences of unsecured firearms in American homes, especially where children are present.
Rare Case of School Shooting by a Child Under 10
While school shootings have become a grim reality in the United States, incidents involving children under 10 years old remain extremely rare.
According to a database maintained by US researcher David Riedman, there have been only about 15 cases of children aged nine or younger firing guns in schools since the 1970s.
The Richneck Elementary School shooting, however, stands out for the severity of the injuries and the legal accountability placed on school officials.
The Ongoing Debate: Guns, Schools, and Responsibility
The Zwerner case reignites a national conversation about gun access, school safety, and systemic accountability.
It raises complex questions:
- How should schools respond to credible threats from very young students?
- What level of responsibility should parents bear for firearm access?
- And how can lawmakers ensure that gun storage laws are both enforced and effective?
Education and gun safety advocates say that school districts must adopt stricter safety protocols — including mandatory threat assessments and secure communication channels for teachers who report potential dangers.
Abby Zwerner’s Legacy: From Survivor to Advocate
Though she has left the classroom, Abby Zwerner’s story continues to shape public discourse around gun safety and mental health in schools.
Her resilience and courage have made her an unwilling but powerful symbol of the need for reform.
“Abby’s bravery reminds us that no educator should ever face violence in a classroom,” said Karen Lee, a Virginia teachers’ union representative.
“Her case must be the catalyst for stronger laws and safer schools.”
Key Takeaways
- Virginia jury awards $10 million to Abby Zwerner, a teacher shot by a six-year-old student.
- Zwerner accused assistant principal Ebony Parker of ignoring repeated warnings about the gun.
- Mother of the child sentenced to 4 years in prison for negligence and gun charges.
- Gun safety advocates renew calls for safe storage laws like Ethan’s Law.
- Experts note this is one of few recorded school shootings by a child under 10.
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