A 6-year-old boy allegedly shot his teacher on Friday while she was trying to confiscate a gun from him. Abby Zwerner, 25, was shot at Richneck Elementary in Newport News, Virginia, just after 2 p.m. She was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.
According to NBC News, this is the third school-related shooting in the district in the past 17 months. The latest incident has parents concerned about their children's safety.
It appears the shooting was intentional.
Shocking details about the incident are emerging. The New York Post reported that Zwerner, listed on the school's website as a first-grade teacher, attempted to get the gun from the student's hand. She told her other students to flee the classroom for safety.
Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew said in a press conference that the shooting was not an accident. It is unclear how the child got the weapon or what the motive for the shooting was. NBC News reported it is unknown whether the child is still in police custody or has legal representation.
Zwerner is beloved by her students.
Brittaney Gregory told NY Post that Zwerner, her son's favorite teacher, left encouraging notes in his backpack.
"I hope you had a great day," Gregory said the teacher wrote in one. "I want you to know your smile is contagious," was written on another.
Gregory said the day of the shooting, Zwerner told the children to run, and they fled to another classroom that was promptly put on lockdown. Gregory found out about the shooting from a neighbor who saw a report on the news. Gregory said that the incident hurt her son.
"Not physically, but this is going to scar him mentally," she said she thought.
The district has experienced three school-related shootings in less than two years.
According to WAVY, a 16-year-old student fired shots into a busy school hallway at Heritage High School during lunchtime in September 2021. Less than two months later, Justice Dunham, 17, was fatally shot by Demari Batten, 18, in the parking lot of Woodside High School.
The outlet reported that the Newport News Public Schools website states the district has 26,500 students at three early childhood centers, 24 elementary schools, seven middle schools, and five high schools.
Parents want answers.
Molly Hunter told NBC News that she has three children in district elementary schools and that the officials' responses are insufficient.
"The response from the district has made parents like myself feel like the violence that is happening within the schools isn't being adequately addressed," she said. "I believe that the district is working hard — they have had a difficult time staffing our schools. They seem to be stretched thin, and the violence problems are out of control."
School Superintendent George Parker III issued a statement on Saturday that reads in part:
"I would like to take this opportunity to remind our families that we have a plan in place at each of our schools to handle emergency situations. We work with closely with the NNPD and other first responders to prepare for these types of emergencies and regularly practice our safety procedures with students and staff through discussions and emergency exercises. While no amount of planning can guarantee that a tragedy such as this will not occur; please know that our collective efforts and preparation resulted in immediate medical care for our faculty member, no injuries to students, and a safe and efficient reunification process for our families and students."
According to the Associated Press, Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones called the shooting "a red flag for the country."
"I do think that after this event, there is going to be a nationwide discussion on how these sorts of things can be prevented," he said.
Zwerner is still hospitalized and recovering from her injuries.
While Zwerner is in hospital, friends and family have started posting to social media, tagging their messages of support #teachersforabby.
The community scheduled a candlelight vigil for Zwerner on Monday evening.
