Teacher Shot by Student Receives Landmark Settlement
NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Abby Zwerner, the Virginia elementary school teacher who was shot and critically wounded by a six-year-old student, has been awarded a $10 million settlement from the Newport News school board. The agreement concludes a lawsuit that exposed a shocking series of ignored warnings and highlighted catastrophic failures by school administrators.
The incident, which took place in January 2023, is a chilling reminder of the challenges facing educators and the devastating impact of gun violence in American schools. This settlement addresses the profound negligence that led to a day of terror inside a first-grade classroom.
A Day of Horror at Richneck Elementary
On the day of the shooting, Abby Zwerner was teaching her first-grade class at Richneck Elementary School. The day took a nightmarish turn when one of her students, a six-year-old boy, pulled out his mother’s 9mm handgun and shot her at point-blank range. The bullet struck her hand and lodged in her chest.
In an incredible act of bravery, the grievously wounded Zwerner first ensured all 20 of her other students were safely evacuated from the classroom before she sought medical help for herself. While her heroism was undeniable, the focus of her lawsuit was the school’s failure to prevent the tragedy despite multiple explicit warnings.
A Cascade of Ignored Warnings
According to Zwerner’s lawsuit, school administrators were alerted at least three times on the day of the shooting that the boy had a gun and posed a threat.
- Zwerner had informed administrators that the boy was in a “violent mood” and had threatened another student.
- Another teacher reported that she searched the boy’s backpack but was then told he had put the weapon in his pocket before recess.
- A student told a staff member in tears that the boy showed him the gun and threatened him with it.
Despite these escalating alarms, school officials failed to take decisive action. One administrator allegedly dismissed the concerns, stating the boy had “small pockets” and told staff to “wait for the day out.” This inaction proved catastrophic.
The Price of Negligence: What the $10M Award Covers
The $10 million settlement is not a prize but an acknowledgment of the school board’s liability. It serves as compensation for the immense physical and emotional trauma Zwerner has endured. The funds are intended to cover:
- Multiple surgeries and ongoing medical treatment for her permanent injuries.
- Therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- The loss of her career in education.
Zwerner’s life has been irrevocably altered by the shooting and the negligence that allowed it to happen. This settlement underscores the absolute duty of school systems to protect their students and staff. It stands as a stark, multi-million-dollar warning about the devastating cost of ignoring that duty.
