By Zecharyah Williams, Sports Editor | January 27, 2023
Photo courtesy of Associated Press images
Richmond, VA-Elementary school teacher Abigail Zwerner was shot and wounded by a 6 year- old student. On the evening of Jan 6, 2023, the student grabbed a handgun from their backpack and shot the teacher during a lesson.
AP News sources reported that the bullet went through Zwerener’s hand and escalated to her chest. Her condition has since improved. Another staff member heard the shot go off and rushed to the classroom where she held the boy-shooter down. When police arrived, the gun was found on the floor.
Subsequently, there has been a lot of discussion on the reasoning for the boy's actions, but the motive is still unclear.
“[It is] really upsetting to know that a student so young could do something like that […] When talking about school violence, we think much older,” Ms. Slear, Carson High School Social Worker, said.
There were no students injured from the shooting although there were at least 20 students present during the time of the shooting.
A wounded Zwerner saved her students by escorting each one out.
“The way that the teacher handled it was perfectly done. She did everything that she could have possibly done. The way that she made sure that every student was safe before even thinking about what was going on with her, was amazing,” Ms. Slear explained. “One thing that could've been different was using immediate resources and having someone talk to the child.”
An officer from the Newport New Police reportedly said that investigators had found shell casings in the accused student’s backpack with the used 9mm Taurus firearm.
The gun was reportedly taken from the student’s home and owned by his mother. At this time, who will be charged, the parents, the student, or both, remains unknown.
After the incident, the child was taken to a hospital to be evaluated.
Under Virginia law, it is a misdemeanor to leave a loaded gun where it is accessible to a child under the age of 14.
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