Skip to main content
Tags: virginia | first grade | teacher | shot | student | behavioral

Va. Teacher Sent Emails About Student's Behavior Before Shooting

richneck elementary school
Police said a teacher at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Va., was shot Jan. 6 by a 6-year-old student. (AP)

By    |   Monday, 06 February 2023 10:27 AM EST

The Virginia first-grade teacher allegedly shot by a 6-year-old student had warned school administrators about the boy's behavior more than a month before the incident, a Newport News TV station reported.

Abby Zwerner, the 25-year-old teacher critically hurt after being shot, had notified officials before the incident that she felt "uncomfortable" with the student returning to her classroom, 13News Now reported.

The boy used a gun, which belonged to his mother and was in his backpack, to shoot Zwerner.

Documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request included emails throughout the school year between Zwerner and school administrators regarding the boy who fired the shot.

In a Nov. 22 email thread, Zwerner informed then-Principal Briana Foster-Newton and then-Assistant Principal Dr. Ebony Parker of two incidents.

Zwerner wrote that the boy stuck up his middle finger to a classmate on Oct. 11, and then on Nov. 11 bumped "into a classmate while running around the class" and pushed the classmate to the ground.

"As of today, I do not feel comfortable with him returning to my classroom today..." Zwerner wrote in the email, 13News Now reported.

In a Nov. 22 email, Parker suggested scheduling a conference with the boy's father to discuss "behavioral difficulties" and "put some things in place to support" the boy.

NBC News previously reported that Zwerner, about an hour before the shooting, texted a loved one to express frustration with administrators, who had been warned the boy was armed.

The two administrators no longer work at the school. Foster-Newton was reassigned within the Newport News School Division. Parker resigned.

After the Jan. 6 shooting, the boy's family said he "suffers from an acute disability and was under a care plan at the school that included his mother or father attending school with him and accompanying him to class every day."

The family added that the week of the shooting "was the first week when we were not in class with him. We will regret our absence on this day for the rest of our lives."

Zwerner's attorney, Diane Toscano, announced her intent to file a lawsuit against Newport News Public Schools. Toscano claimed that Richneck Elementary School teachers and employees warned administrators three times that the student had a gun and was threatening people on the day of the shooting, 13News Now reported.

Foster-Newton's attorney said she wasn't one of the administrators warned.

© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.


Newsfront
The Virginia first-grade teacher allegedly shot by a 6-year-old student had warned school administrators about the boy's behavior more than a month before the incident, a Newport News TV station reported.
virginia, first grade, teacher, shot, student, behavioral
399
2023-27-06
Monday, 06 February 2023 10:27 AM
Newsmax Media, Inc.

Sign up for Newsmax’s Daily Newsletter

Receive breaking news and original analysis - sent right to your inbox.

(Optional for Local News)
Privacy: We never share your email address.
Join the Newsmax Community
Read and Post Comments
Please review Community Guidelines before posting a comment.
 
TOP

Interest-Based Advertising | Do not sell or share my personal information

Newsmax, Moneynews, Newsmax Health, and Independent. American. are registered trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax TV, and Newsmax World are trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc.

NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Download the NewsmaxTV App
Get the NewsmaxTV App for iOS Get the NewsmaxTV App for Android Scan QR code to get the NewsmaxTV App
NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved