6-Year-Old Used Mom's Gun To Shoot Teacher: VA Police Chief

NEWPORT NEWS, VA — A Virginia first-grade teacher who was shot and seriously injured by a 6-year-old student Friday is in stable condition, Richneck Elementary School said in an update Monday, adding that schools will be closed all week "to give our students and families additional time to heal."

The boy was taken into police custody after he intentionally shot 25-year-old Abigail Zwerner inside a classroom at Richneck Elementary School Friday, police said. The shooting was isolated and the student and teacher knew each other in a classroom setting, according to authorities.

Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew said Monday afternoon during a news conference that the boy brought his mother's 9mm handgun from home to the school in a backpack. The mother legally purchased the firearm.

“This shooting was not accidental, it was intentional," Drew told reporters. "I believe Ms. Zwerner, Abigail, saved lives that day.”

After she was shot, Zwerner made sure the other students were safely out of the room, the police chief said. There was no fight, the firearm was displayed by the boy, who fired one round at the teacher.

There was more than one bullet in the gun, Drew said.

Brittaney Gregory, whose son was in the class, told The Washington Post Sunday that Zwerner’s first-grade class was in a small reading group and about to switch to art when the 6-year-old pulled the gun from a backpack and pointed it at Zwerner.

“She was going to confiscate it, and that’s when he shot,” Gregory told the newspaper.

Police don't know how the gun was secured at home, or how the boy knew to fire it. Drew said he couldn’t comment on whether the student previously made threats against the teacher or classmates.

“This is unprecedented, this is a 6-year-old,” the police chief said.

After the shooting, a judge issued an emergency custody order and the child was taken to a local hospital for treatment. State law requires that after 96 hours the boy must go before a judge, and the court will determine treatment or next steps for the child.

Video from the school hallway shows children running out of the classroom and across the hall following the shooting. An unidentified school employee went into the room and restrained the boy — who struck her once or twice — until police arrived, Drew said.

School Superintendent Dr. George Parker said, “We are very pleased to hear our teacher, Abby, is improving.”

As of this date, all children have been offered mental health support, as have all school staff members, the superintendent said. A helpline has been created for those who need support, such as how to talk to their child about what happened.

“An incident like this doesn’t traumatize one community, it traumatizes the entire city,” Parker said.

One of the shooter's classmates told the Virginian-Pilot that she witnessed the shooting, which happened about 2 p.m. The girl told a reporter her classmate shot their teacher "on purpose." She said the teacher was shot in the stomach.

Trannisha Brown, whose 11-year-old son is a fifth-grader at Richneck, told The New York Times that she "received a frightening call from her son" shortly after the shooting. She said her son and his classmates dropped to the floor of their classroom when they heard gunfire.

"It shook me up hearing those kids crying and going frantic," Brown told the Times. "All they knew was that there was a shooter in the school and they didn’t know where the shooter was."

Virginia law does not allow 6-year-olds to be tried as adults. In addition, a 6-year-old is too young to be committed to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice if found guilty.
A juvenile judge would have authority to revoke a parent’s custody and place a child under the purview of the Department of Social Services.

"We have been in contact with our commonwealth’s attorney (local prosecutor) and some other entities to help us best get services to this young man," Drew said.

Virginia Sen. Mark Warner said he was "deeply disturbed" by the shooting.

"My thoughts go out to all families and first responders," the Democratic senator said in a statement.

Sen. Tim Kaine also released a statement. "I’m monitoring this situation closely and praying for the safety of the students, teachers, staff, and first responders at Richneck Elementary School," the statement read.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.