School official did nothing after being told about a 6-year-old student with a gun, prosecutor says
Summary
A Virginia assistant principal, Ebony Parker, is on trial for not acting after being warned that a 6-year-old student had a gun, which was later used to shoot a teacher. The shooting injured the teacher seriously, and Parker faces eight felony child neglect charges related to the incident.Key Facts
- The shooting occurred in January 2023 at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia.
- The victim is first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner, who was seriously wounded and required multiple surgeries.
- Several school staff told Parker they believed the student had a gun, but Parker took no action and did not notify the principal or call police.
- Parker denied a school counselor's request to search the student because searches could only be done by an administrator or security officer.
- The school’s security officer was not available that day, leaving Parker and the principal with authority to act; however, the principal was not informed.
- Parker faces eight felony counts corresponding to each bullet fired; each count carries up to five years in prison.
- The student’s mother was previously sentenced to nearly four years in prison on related charges.
- A civil jury awarded $10 million to the injured teacher last year, with Parker as the sole defendant.
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