Officials at the Virginia school where a 6-year-old boy shot his teacher last week learned the boy may have had a gun in his possession before the shooting, but stopped short of taking the 9mm pistol he carried to class, Superintendent George Parker told parents of students during a meeting on Thursday.
A school official was notified about the gun before the first-grader shot the teacher at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, which borders Norflok and Virginia Beach.
“At least one administrator was notified of a possible weapon […] and was aware that that student had,
there was a possibility that there was a weapon on campus
,” the superintendent told parents, according to a clip from the meeting broadcast on the local station WAVY-TV.
"The student's book bag was searched after it was reported that it might contain a weapon," Parker said.
But the weapon was not found.
Newport News residents hold a vigil for teacher Abby Zwerner on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. John C. Clark / AP
Details about how they found out about the gun and why it was not seized before the shooting are not yet known.
The local police chief previously said the boy brought the gun to school in his backpack.
[How can a 6 year old shoot his teacher? Easy access to weapons and audiovisual violence increase the risk]
The
teacher,
Abigail Zwerner, 25,
was shot in the chest with a life-threatening shot;
She is in a stable situation in the hospital, and if her condition has improved in the last week.
Newport News School Board President Lisa Surles-Law said Thursday that the district will install
metal detectors
at all schools, starting with Richneck.
New Details About 6-Year-Old Shooting of His Teacher in Virginia
Jan 10, 202300:30
The January 6 shooting occurred while Zwerner was teaching his class.
Authorities said there was no warning or struggle before the 6-year-old boy pointed the gun at Zwerner.
Police described the incident as intentional;
a judge will determine the criminal consequences for the minor, who is admitted to a medical center by virtue of an emergency custody order;
and for her parents.
According to investigators, the gun belonged to his mother and had been acquired legally.
A Virginia law prohibits leaving a loaded gun where it is accessible to a person under 14 years of age.
