Teacher Shot by 6-Year-Old Student Reportedly Warned School Beforehand and They Did Nothing

The administrators of a Virginia school were warned three separate times about a first-grade student carrying a gun but failed to act before he shot his teacher, according to the teacher’s lawyer.

Diane Toscano, the lawyer for the teacher Abigail Zwerner, claimed Wednesday that the administrators at Richneck Elementary School were warned multiple times about the 6-year-old boy’s gun, but were “paralyzed by apathy” They refused to call police or lock down school.

According to the Associated PressToscano indicated that her client will sue Newport News after she was shot in the head by the 6-year-old during teaching earlier this month.

Toscano said, “On that day, over the course of a few hours, three different times — three times — school administration was warned by concerned teachers and employees that the boy had a gun on him at the school and was threatening people. But the administration could not be bothered.”

At a meeting earlier this month, Newport News Public Schools Superintendent George Parker told parents that “at least one” school official knew of a potential gun on the school’s campus prior to the shooting.

Zwerner informed an administrator at 11:15 AM the day before the shooting that the boy had threatened to beat another student. Toscano claims that no action was taken by the school official.

The lawyer alleged that one of Zwerner’s colleagues told a school administrator around noon that she had looked through the boy’s backpack and believed he put the gun in his pocket before recess. Toscano says that the administrator told Zwerner about Zwerner’s colleagues. “downplayed” the teacher’s theory, and dismissed them by saying that the boy “has little pockets.”

A teacher later told the school administrator that the boy showed his classmate the gun at recess, and threatened to shoot him for telling anyone. His classmate called his teacher. “crying and fearful,” Toscano says that school officials have yet to respond to Toscano’s request.

Another school employee had warned the administration about the possibility that the 6-year-old boy may have a gun. However, the administrator refused to search the boy when asked.

A 6-year old student opened fire on his 25-year-old teacher, hitting her in the chest. Zwerner was taken to hospital for two more weeks.

Toscano said during a press conference Wednesday, “Did administrators call the police? No. Did administrators lock down the school? No. Did administrators evacuate the building? No. Did they confront the student? No.”

“Three weeks ago, Abby was a cheery young woman with a big heart and loved educating young people — she had a very bright future and a career she loved. Today, she is between surgeries and physical therapy appointments, with a career in question. How could anyone find the courage to confidently face a class of students again?”
 

Wednesday, February 13, 2009 Newport News School Board At a special meeting, 5-1 votes were cast to remove district Superintendent George Parker III. He will be relieved of his duties effective Feb. 1.