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Assistant principal "did nothing" when told about 6-year-old with gun, prosecutor says

Assistant principal "did nothing" when told about 6-year-old with gun, prosecutor says

Summary

A Virginia assistant principal, Ebony Parker, faces felony child neglect charges for allegedly not acting after multiple warnings that a 6-year-old student had a gun before the student shot a teacher in 2023. The teacher was seriously injured, and the trial is focusing on Parker’s response to the warnings and her failure to involve other school officials or law enforcement.

Key Facts

  • The shooting happened in January 2023 at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia.
  • A 6-year-old student brought a gun to school and shot a first-grade teacher, Abby Zwerner.
  • Teachers warned assistant principal Ebony Parker about the gun, but she did not take action.
  • Parker reportedly said the student’s mother was coming soon and did not order a search or call the police.
  • The school’s security officer was absent that day, and only Parker and the principal could act, but Parker did not inform the principal.
  • The teacher, Zwerner, was seriously hurt, underwent six surgeries, and lost some use of her left hand.
  • Parker faces eight felony counts of child neglect, one for each bullet in the gun, with up to five years in prison per count.
  • It is rare for school officials to face criminal charges after a school shooting.
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