A recent update was released concerning the January incident at a Virginia school, where a six-year-old student shot his teacher, Abby Zwerner.
Newly released police search warrants reveal that the child stated, “I shot that (expletive) dead,” and mentioned he had taken his mother’s gun the previous night.
The teacher, who sustained injuries to her hand and chest, survived and has since initiated a $40 million lawsuit against Newport News Public Schools. The gunshot was overheard by a reading specialist passing by Zwerner’s classroom at Richneck Elementary. Following the shot, students evacuated the room, and the boy was found near his desk with the handgun on the ground. He was detained by the specialist until police arrived.
The police found a loaded 9 mm handgun and a spent shell casing in the room. Zwerner reported that the boy had targeted her and fired once, hitting her. The boy’s mother, Deja Taylor, faces charges related to child neglect and improper firearm storage. Taylor asserts the gun was securely stored, but the gunlock key was found under her mattress.
The event has led to a lawsuit against the school, citing negligence and prior warnings about the child’s aggressive tendencies. The school board mentioned the child was being assessed for potential ADHD. State and federal laws mandate that students with behavioral issues remain in regular classrooms. A plea hearing for the case is set for the upcoming week.
