A former assistant principal at a Virginia elementary school has been charged with eight counts of felony child neglect after a 6-year-old student shot his teacher in January 2023. The grand jury report released on Wednesday revealed that the assistant principal, Ebony Parker, failed to respond appropriately to multiple warnings about the child having a gun. The report criticized Parker for not removing the child from class or contacting the police, despite being aware of the student’s past disciplinary issues. The incident resulted in the serious injury of teacher Abby Zwerner, who was shot by the boy after he brought his mother’s gun to school in a backpack.
The grand jury report highlighted missed opportunities to provide resources to the student and tools that Parker could have used to address his behavior before the shooting. It noted that Parker’s lack of response and initiative on the day of the incident was shocking, considering her knowledge of the child’s history of misbehavior. The report also mentioned instances where other students were harmed by the same boy who later shot Zwerner. One parent testified that her son was choked twice by the boy but was never informed of his identity or history of violent behavior.
Parker was accused of criminal responsibility for neglecting to take action after receiving reports that the boy may have had a gun. The report detailed the sequence of events leading up to the shooting, including multiple warnings from students and staff members about the child’s possession of a firearm. Despite these warnings, Parker allegedly refused to let the boy be searched after his backpack was examined, allowing him to remain in the classroom with a loaded firearm. The report described how Zwerner was left alone with her students after several reports of the boy having a gun, leading to her injury and hospitalization.
Following the shooting, Newport News Public Schools announced Parker’s resignation, and Zwerner filed a $40 million negligence lawsuit against her and other school officials. The lawsuit alleges systemic failures that contributed to the shooting and resulting trauma experienced by Zwerner and her students. The report highlighted the emotional struggles faced by the children in Zwerner’s class, including fear, guilt, and trauma. Some students are receiving therapy to cope with the aftermath of the shooting, while others have experienced financial and emotional hardships as a result of the incident.
In addition to the emotional impact on students, the grand jury report also addressed issues with school security, noting that police responding to the shooting were delayed due to a broken door-buzzer system. The report recommended implementing automatic entry systems in all Newport News schools to allow law enforcement immediate access in case of emergencies. The findings of the report underscore the importance of addressing gaps in school safety protocols and providing support for students and staff members who have experienced trauma.
Overall, the grand jury report sheds light on the failures that occurred leading up to the shooting at the Virginia elementary school and the ongoing impact on the victims and their families. It serves as a reminder of the need for proactive measures to prevent future incidents of violence in schools and ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff members.
