Teacher Awarded $10M After Being Shot by First-Grader
In a case that has captured national attention, a Virginia school teacher who was shot and critically wounded by her six-year-old student has been awarded a $10 million settlement. The story of Abigail “Abby” Zwerner is a harrowing account of trauma and heroism, but it also serves as a damning indictment of a school system that allegedly failed to protect her despite receiving multiple, specific warnings.
The incident at the center of this case highlights the shocking outcome after a US school teacher was shot by a six-year-old student and has now been awarded $10m in a landmark settlement.
A Day of Horror at Richneck Elementary
The shooting unfolded on January 6, 2023, at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia. During a first-grade class, a six-year-old boy pulled a 9mm handgun from his pocket, aimed it at his teacher, and fired. The bullet tore through Ms. Zwerner’s hand and lodged in her chest. Displaying incredible courage, the severely injured teacher managed to usher all 20 of her students out of the classroom to safety before she collapsed.
While her actions were hailed as heroic, the events leading up to the shooting revealed what her lawsuit described as a catastrophic failure by the school administration, which formed the basis of her $40 million lawsuit against the Newport News School Board.
Multiple Warnings Ignored by School Administration
According to Ms. Zwerner’s lawsuit, school officials were alerted on at least three separate occasions on the day of the shooting that the child had a gun and was a potential threat.
- Staff reported the boy was in a “violent mood” and had threatened another student.
- One teacher told an administrator she saw the boy take what she believed was a gun from his backpack.
- Another student tearfully confessed that the boy had shown him the weapon at recess and threatened to shoot him if he told an adult.
The lawsuit alleges that the administration’s response was tragically dismissive. An assistant principal reportedly shrugged off the concerns, claiming the boy’s pockets were “too small to hold a handgun” and advised staff to “wait it out.” Just hours later, Abby Zwerner was shot.
Landmark Settlement for Gross Negligence
The $10 million settlement, reached before the case went to trial, bypasses the typical limits of a workers’ compensation claim. Ms. Zwerner’s attorneys successfully argued that her injuries were not the result of a typical workplace accident but were a direct consequence of “gross negligence” by her employers. They contended that the school board was aware of the student’s history of violent behavior and failed to act on credible, real-time threats, leading directly to the life-altering shooting.
This case raises profound questions about institutional accountability and the fundamental duty of a school to ensure the safety of its students and staff. The settlement provides a measure of financial justice for Abby Zwerner, who has undergone multiple surgeries and faces a lifetime of physical and emotional scars. Her story serves as a stark reminder that school safety relies on listening, believing, and acting decisively when a life is on the line.
