The former assistant principal of a Virginia school where a six-year-old boy shot a teacher broke down in tears as a judge dismissed the criminal charges against her.
Ebony Parker, the ex-vice principal of Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, about 35 miles northwest of Norfolk, was charged with eight counts of felony child neglect over the January 2023 shooting.
First-grade teacher Abigail Zwerner suffered gunshot wounds to her chest and hand after a young boy brought in his mother’s gun and fired at her.
Parker, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, had been accused of failing to take any action to protect Zwerner or students after being warned multiple times about the six-year-old’s violent and aggressive behavior toward others.
Judge Rebecca Robinson dismissed the case against Parker on Thursday, claiming the former assistant principal did not break the law.
‘If [Parker’s actions] are meant to amount to a crime, the legislature will need to codify it,’ the judge said.
‘Therefore, I do grant the defense motion to strike in full on all counts, all eight counts of felony child abuse and endangerment.’
Parker sobbed in court as the judge spoke, then walked out of the courthouse without speaking to reporters, according to WTKR.
Ebony Parker, the ex-vice principal of Richneck Elementary School in Virginia, sobbed as the criminal charges against her were dismissed on Thursday
First-grade teacher Abigail Zwerner suffered gunshot wounds to her chest and hand after a young boy brought in his mother’s gun and fired at her
Zwerner’s family issued a statement to the media saying she is ready to put this incident behind her.
‘We are happy that this tragic event is behind Abby,’ the statement, sent by Karen Piere, Abby’s aunt, said.
‘As devastating as this shooting was, may it bring change to the education system in our country so that violent children are not placed in a general education classroom, and I hope that administrators are held accountable if this were to happen again for violent behavior.’
On Tuesday, Zwerner testified that she told Parker about the boy’s ‘violent mood’ that day. She had also heard from Amy Kovac, the class reading specialist, that he may have had a firearm.
Zwerner said that Kovac went to report this to Parker. Later, at recess, Zwerner said she noticed that the boy was wearing an oversized jacket and holding his hands in his pockets for the whole time.
While at recess, the boy stared down the school security officer while Zwerner talked to her, she testified.
‘I witnessed the student was staring her down, very focused on her and he slowly got up from his seat and ever so slowly approached, still not breaking eye contact at the security officer and that stuck out to me as well,’ she said on the stand.
When they were back in class, the boy approached her with the gun in hand, she testified. She was then shot through her hand and chest, which led to permanent physical injuries.
Parker, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, had been accused of failing to take any action to protect Zwerner or students
Zwerner testified on Tuesday that she told Parker about the boy’s ‘violent mood’ that day
‘I saw the student looking at me. I looked over. A gun was pointed right at me. He was holding a gun, the student. It was pointed right at me. And then I was shot,’ she said.
In November, Parker was ordered to pay Zwerner $10 million in a gross negligence lawsuit.
In that lawsuit, Zwerner detailed telling Parker that the boy was in a violent mood, had threatened to beat up a kindergartener, and stared down a security officer in the lunchroom.
It also alleged that Parker had no response, refusing even to look up when Zwerner expressed her concerns.
When concerns were raised that the child may have transferred the gun from his backpack to his pocket, Parker said his ‘pockets were too small to hold a handgun and did nothing,’ the lawsuit states.
A guidance counselor also asked Parker for permission to search the boy, but Parker forbade him and stated that John Doe’s mother would be arriving soon to pick him up, the lawsuit stated.
Zwerner was sitting at a reading table in front of the class when the boy fired the gun, police said.
Judge Rebecca Robinson dismissed the case against Parker on Thursday, claiming the former assistant principal did not break the law
In November, Parker was ordered to pay Zwerner $10 million in gross negligence lawsuit
She spent nearly two weeks in the hospital and has endured multiple surgeries as well as ongoing emotional trauma, according to her lawsuit.
Zwerner also claimed to not have full use of her left hand. A bullet also remains in her chest.
The shooting also occurred on the student’s first day back in the classroom after he was suspended for slamming Zwerner’s phone.
The boy’s mother, Deja Taylor, pleaded guilty to felony child neglect and was sentenced to two years in prison in 2023.
Criminal charges were never filed against the student.
