UPDATED 1/13 4:50 p.m. ET: According to authorities, school staff at Richneck Elementary School searched the first-grader’s bag before he allegedly shot his teacher, per Associated Press.
During a press conference on Friday, police said that administrations at the school learned that the child was potentially in possession of a firearm prior to the shooting but failed to find the 9mm handgun during a search of his bag. Police were not informed about this before the shooting, confirmed Newport News Police Department spokesperson Kelly King.
“The Newport News Police Department was not notified of this information prior to the incident,” said King, who noted police only learned later that a school employee was notified of the possible weapon.
Michelle Price, who is a spokesperson for the school district, said that the child's bag was searched after they got a tip. “I’m not able to comment on whether other searches may have occurred, except for the fact that the superintendent has shared that the student’s backpack was searched and nothing was found at the time,” added Price.
25-year-old first-grade teacher Abigail Zwerner was hospitalized after she was shot in the chest, and while her condition was critical when she was admitted she has since partially recovered and is in a stable condition.
“I want to know how thoroughly someone conducted that search,” said Mo Canady, executive director of the National Association of School Resource Officers. “Keep in mind that there are some very small firearms out there, so you really have to search every nook and cranny if you really believe there is a firearm.”
See original story from 1/7/23 below.
A 6-year-old boy was taken into custody Friday after allegedly shooting his first grade teacher.
According to CNN, the incident took place during an altercation between the pair at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News. Police didn’t provide details on what sparked the argument, but said the student had pulled out a handgun just moments before firing a single shot. The 30-year-old teacher, who has not been publicly identified, reportedly sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported to the hospital in critical condition. Virginia authorities say no students were harmed during the incident.
Police have not confirmed the type of gun that was used.
The school was placed on lockdown at between 2-3:20 p.m. local time. Parents and students were reportedly reunited at a gymnasium door.
“I’m in shock, and I’m disheartened,” Newport News Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. George Parker, said during a press conference. “We need to educate our children and we need to keep them safe. We need the community’s support, continued support, to make sure that guns are not available to youth and I’m sounding like a broken record today, because I continue to reiterate that: that we need to keep the guns out of the hands of our young people.”
Parker confirmed that the school district has a number of security measures that include random metal detection. Police are now trying to determine how the child obtained the firearm.
According to the Associated Press, a 6-year-old cannot be tried as an adult under Virginia law. Furthermore, the child is too young to be placed in the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice if he’s ultimately found guilty.
“This is a red flag for the country,” Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones said. “I do think that after this event, there is going to be a nationwide discussion on how these sorts of things can be prevented.”
