The teacher who was shot at roughly 2:00 pm on Friday at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News was Abby Zwerner, FOX3 has learned.
Abby Zwerner, a teacher at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, was hit by a gunshot in her classroom at 2 p.m. Friday, FOX3 has learned.
She underwent immediate surgery at the hospital. Zwerner was listed in critical condition earlier this evening, according to officials, and there have been no subsequent updates.
Zwerner, who was from Williamsburg, is alleged to have been involved in a “altercation” with the suspect, who has not been publicly identified by the police, before she was shot.
Zwerner’s name was confirmed to FOX3 by her parent, Sebastian Gonzalez-Hernandez, who also described her selflessness in the moments immediately following the tragedy.
He said that after the student shot one bullet, “she screamed at her kids to run away.”
According to Gonzalez-Hernandez, the victim was concerned about the well-being of her children even after she had been shot.
When the shot was fired in the classroom, his own six-year-old child, the identity of whom he chose not to disclose, was there.
He told FOX3 that his son didn’t see what happened, but when he heard the gunshot, he turned around and saw Miss Zwerner on the floor.
“She is a great teacher who works hard. My son loves her very much, and we’re all very sad about what happened. We’re all thinking about her and hoping she gets better soon.
Zwerner was found to be in critical condition and was sent to Riverside Regional Medical Center, where he now remains. She was the only person who sustained an injury.
The scary shot was verified to have been fired by a first-grader who was just six years old, but the police are still investigating how the child obtained a firearm.
At a press conference on Friday, Newport News Chief Steve Drew stated, “This was not an accidental shooting.” “It was in a classroom, and there was a fight.” We did not experience an incident where someone avoided the school shooting. In one particular place, there was an incident where a gunshot was fired.
It has been reported to FOX3 by the grandmother of one of the students that student brought “bright gold bullets” to school the previous week; however, it is not known whether or not this is the same child who was detained earlier today.
A message of support for JMU graduate Abby Zwerner from President Alger on behalf of the JMU community.
Police responded to a shooting at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News Friday afternoon. Police said this is no longer an active shooter situation and that no students were injured. However, one adult was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.
A six-year-old student was taken into custody by police on Friday after a teacher was shot at an elementary school in Virginia and taken to the hospital. Police and school officials in the city of Newport News said the teacher was taken to the hospital.
According to a news release issued by the police, the shooting that took place at Richneck Elementary School did not result in any injuries to the pupils.
The woman’s injuries, according to the authorities, are life threatening.
According to NNPS, the suspect who was responsible for the shooting has been taken into custody. FOX3 has been informed by sources within NNPS that the student who shot the teacher was in the first grade.
According to the Chief of Police in Newport News, Steve Drew, a 6-year-old kid and his teacher got into “an altercation” before the boy pulled a firearm on the teacher and shot her. The child was detained for further investigation. No students were wounded.
However, at least one child who claimed to have witnessed the shooting identified the person who carried it out as a fellow student.
A 6-year-old student who saw the shooting, but whose mother asked that her daughter’s name not be publicised, reported seeing it. The youngster claimed to a reporter from the Daily Press that one of her classmates “on intentionally” shot their female teacher. The instructor knelt down.
911 still has people locked in rooms safe. There is no longer a threat per PD.
Newport News Public Schools issued the following statement:
There has been a shooting incident at Richneck Elementary School. A teacher was injured and transported to a local hospital. All of the students are safe. The perpetrator is in police custody. The Police Department and school division leaders are onsite and actively investigating. Parent and student reunification is taking place at the Richneck gym door. Parents and guardians must present a picture ID to pick up their child.
The school is located at 205 Tyner Drive, off Jefferson Avenue.
At approximately 2:00 in the afternoon, the school was placed in lockdown mode. At approximately 3:20 p.m., the lockdown was lifted, and officers immediately began the process of reuniting parents and students at a reunification site.
According to Police Chief Steve Drew, there is one person currently detained by the police. He refused to discuss what took place, but he did say that after the event, the most important thing was to make sure that students were safe and that they were able to process what had occurred by having counsellors get in touch with them.
Inside of the school, law enforcement officers are currently processing the scene and collecting evidence. He was unable to specify which area of the school the incident took place in.
Call the Newport News Police Department at 757-247-2500 if you have any information that could be useful, or call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP to provide information while maintaining your anonymity.
This is a developing story that will be updated when more information is available.
