6-year-old who shot teacher Abigail Zwerner took the gun from his mother

On Monday, the police in Newport News, Virginia, disclosed additional information regarding the shooting of an elementary school teacher, which is suspected to have been carried out by a kid aged 6 years old.

On Friday, January 6, a shooting occurred at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia. According to the authorities, the shooting “was intentional.” Police Chief Steve Drew stated during a news conference that the instructor, who has been identified as Abigail Zwerner and is 25 years old, was in the middle of teaching a lesson when the student drew the weapon.

According to Drew, the instructor “took a protective position” and placed her palm up, but the bullet nevertheless pierced her chest after passing through her hand. She is still being treated at the hospital, where she is said to be in stable condition.

According to Drew, no other shots were fired after that one. He said that the teacher and the student had not gotten into a physical altercation. Drew identified the weapon the boy was using as a pistol even though it was a 9 millimetre Taurus firearm.

According to the police, the mother of the child legitimately purchased the firearm. The boy had carried the handgun to school in his backpack; but, according to Drew, the handgun was still on the child’s body at the time of the shooting and had not been removed from the backpack. Drew did not offer any information regarding the manner in which the firearm was stored within the house.

“I hope we never have to raise this question again, but how can a child of six years old know how to properly handle a firearm? I’m not sure whether I can provide you with an answer that is satisfactory, “Drew remarked. “This has never happened before. That is a question to which I do not have an answer.”

Following the shooting of Zwerner, the teacher was able to safely remove the students from the classroom. Drew related what he saw on the surveillance camera, which showed “17 to 20” students in the room spilling out into the hallway and heading into an adjacent classroom. He noted that Ms. Zwerner was the very last person to leave the classroom and referred to her as a “hero.”

“It was heroic the way the students were taken care of,” Drew said.

According to the police report, a female school employee who remained anonymous entered the classroom and restrained the youngster while the teacher, Zwerner, went to find assistance in the administrative offices. At 1:59 p.m., police said they received a call regarding the gunshot, and five minutes later, the first officers arrived at the site. The remainder of the school was safely evacuated using a systematic approach, and families were reunited with their missing members. Students who had been in the classroom during the shooting were taken to the school library to speak with investigators and mental health specialists. These students had previously been in the classroom where the shooting occurred.

According to the school superintendent, Dr. George Parker III, lessons at Richneck Elementary School have been cancelled for the remainder of the week. Dr. Parker III added that the school and the district will learn from the occurrence and build further protections against gun violence.

According to Parker, “I do not feel in any way that we were entirely prepared for a 6-year-old child to bring a firearm to school and shoot his teacher.”

According to Drew, the child is currently receiving care at a medical institution. An emergency custody order has been acquired, and within the following 96 hours from the time of the shooting, a judge will need to determine “future steps” for the situation.