Sam Amico
The lawyer for a Virginia teacher who was shot by a 6-year-old student said school administrators were warned three times that the boy had a gun and making threats.
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The incident took place at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News on Jan. 6, when Abigail Zwerner, 25, suffered serious injuries as a result. Her attorney, Diane Toscano, said she notified the school board of plans to sue.
“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,” Toscano said.
Toscano said that Zwerner first went to an administrator after the boy threatened to beat up another child, but that no action was taken. Later, another teacher told an administrator that she believed the boy had a gun in his pocket and had taken it out to recess, Tuscano said.
Abigail Zwerner to Sue Richneck Elementary
“The administrator downplayed the report from the teacher and the possibility of a gun, saying — and I quote — ‘Well, he has little pockets,’ ” Toscano said.
Later, another child was crying after saying the boy had shown the gun at recess.
Another employee asked an administrator to search the boy, the administrator turned him down, Toscano said.
“He was told to wait the situation out because the school day was almost over,” she said.
The shooting took place about an hour later.
“Abby Zwerner was shot in front of those horrified kids, and the school and community are living the nightmare, all because the school administration failed to act,” Toscano said.
“Were they not so paralyzed by apathy, they could have prevented this tragedy.”
Police said the shooting was intentional, with Zwerner suffering wounds to the chest and hand. She is now at home recovering.
The boy’s family said that the boy has an “acute disability” and was under a care plan that included his mother or father accompanying him to class every day. The week of the shooting was the first he did not have a parent with him in school.
You go girl…sue them till it hurts. They didn’t listen.
My heart goes out to the teacher and her family. Shame on the school for not being productive on handling the issue.
She should sue the school.
Why on the he’ll didn’t those stupid teachers take the initiative to call 911 them self when the school administration refused to do anything?
Okay where did he get the gun from and what’s gonna happen to that child? If he was supposed to be watched and a parent couldn’t come and extraaid shoulda been assigned to him for the day. Definitely sue the school cause that was pure negligence on them.
And these are some of the people wanting full control over what is taught because they are highly educated with common sense that is on a higher level then the parents. Well they both get a big fat
F parents and administration both. Right along with any teachers that knew what the boy said and didn’t immediately call the police whether administration wanted to or not It is your duty also to protect those kids. Not some hair brain that sits at a desk all day
that refused to call in the threat. Start looking for another job and find one you are capable of that has nothing to do with childrens welfare.
After you sue the District then file a civil suit against the moron that chose to do nothing.
How does a six year old know how to shoot a real gun and who taught him this is bizarre, I think there is more to this story than meets the eye. That little boy needs to be spanked like he’s never been spanked before and then punished so he can learn that this is a good way to lose his life and obviously nobody is teaching him a damn thing
You are asking the same questions I’m asking myself. How does a 6 year old know how to operate a hand gun? And this “ acute disability “ what is this ??? Where was his parents? Why did school let the boy stay without his parents? And this gun ??? So the gun and ammo was available and in reach to this child who as this “cute disability” ??? (I’m not making light of it. I just don’t understand it )The school district and parents are at fault. I’m speechless about the boy. There is always more to the story, just takes time to come out.
I read this and got angry how this all went down..how if administration had done their job, teacher would not of been shot, PTSD for those poor kids would not of happened. Obviously this little boy had parents with him all day? Or just walked him to class?
Agree where the heck he get a gun? My gosh it’s insane and he is a very ill little boy… parents are to blame also. Why not seeing Dr about all his thoughts and ideas? Many people have now suffered
This is so bad, I agree she should and everyone that was told about this 6 yr old and did nothing should loss there job and made to do community service as well as pay restitution too this precious teacher, as well as pay restitution to all the kids families that were in there and traumatized b this
Praying for all involved, and if the gun was secured at home, how did the boy get it it seems the system has failed the teachers and students and this 6 yr old too.😭💔😭💔😭💔😭💔😭💔😭💔😭💔😭💔
The school, administrator, and anyone else who was told about this gun and did absolutely nothing should all be sued and fired. If this child had such a serious problem that he required a parent at school with him everyday he belonged in a different kind of school, not a school with normal children. How long have the parents and school known that this child has had this problem and allowed him to attend this school? There’s a lot of missing pieces to this puzzle!
This is the worst thing I’ve ever read about a school system failing a student teacher and every single other student in that building!!! The fact that most school shooings can’t be avoided because there is no clues leading up to it. This is the worst case that 💯 could have been avoided. These administrators completely just did not want to do their job! They let down every single person in that building as well as the families of every person in the building! The fact that they were warned not once not twice but at LEAST 3X is completely unacceptable period. Honestly if I had a child at this school after this I would NEVER allow my child back in this building!!! What made these adults just think that if they just waited a little bit longer that it’d be the end of the day and they’d not have to deal with it is absolutely crazy. They failed everyone as well as themselves an I’ve never heard of such a horrible thing that was absolutely able to be avoided yet adults allowed it to happen!it’s SD it’s unacceptable and it’s everyone’s fault that was aware that just turned a blind eye and ear too! They should be held responsible and they should never be allowed back in the school systems again!