Six-year-old used gun mom purchased legally to ‘intentionally’ shoot teacher

10.01.2023 20:47

«Metro UK»

'The six-year-old child displayed a firearm, pointed it at her, and fired one round.'

Attendees hold their heads down for a prayer during a vigil for Abby Zwerner, the teacher shot by a 6-year-old student at Richneck Elementary, in front of the Newport News Public Schools Administration Building on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, in Newport News, Va. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot via AP) — Supporters attend a vigil for victim Abby Zwerner, the teacher shot by a 6-year-old student at Richneck Elementary, in front of the Newport News Public Schools Administration Building (Picture: AP)

The six-year-old student who shot their teacher in Virginia used a gun purchased by their mother, police said on Monday.

Authorities and city officials in Newport News provided an update and new details about the terrifying school shooting that took place at Richneck Elementary School.

Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew said police were called to the school at 1.59pm on Friday with little information – only the knowledge that a teacher had been shot.

‘They found a six-year-old child that was being physically restrained by a school employee. The child became a little combative, actually struck the school employee,’ Drew said. ‘Officers then took control of him and escorted him out of the building.’

A six year-old boy has been taken into custody after he allegedly deliberately shot his first-grade teacher at his Virginia elementary school, leaving her critically-ill. Newport News Police have taken a student, who has not been publicly identified, into custody. The unidentified female teacher, who is in her 30s, was reportedly shot in the stomach and has been was taken to Riverside Regional Medical Center. 'The individual is a six-year-old student and is right now in police custody,' Newport News Chief Scott Drew said at a press conference on Friday. 'This was not an accidental shooting. 'It was in a classroom, an altercation took place there,' he said. 'We did not have a situation where someone was going around the school shooting. We had a situation in one particular location where a gunshot was fired.' The incident unfolded at Richneck Elementary School, a school for kids aged five to nine, just before 2pm. No children were harmed and police are working to figure out how the child had access to the gun. A grandmother of one of the students told DailyMail.com that a student brought 'shiny gold bullets' to school last week, but it is unclear if it is the same child who was taken into custody today. A crowd of parents waited outside Richneck Elementary School after the 2pm shooting where a six-year-old allegedly shot his teacher on purpose after an 'altercation' +6 View gallery A crowd of parents waited outside Richneck Elementary School after the 2pm shooting where a six-year-old allegedly shot his teacher on purpose after an 'altercation' The shooting occurred in the classroom and was an isolated incident. Officers are still trying to determine how to managed to get the weapon. +6 View gallery The shooting occurred in the classroom and was an isolated incident. Officers are still trying to determine how to managed to get the weapon. The grandmother, who asked not to be named, said the child had allegedly 'brought bullets to school last week and said he would bring his gun.' 'A parent told the school they did nothing, now look,' she wrote on Facebook. Speaking to DailyMail.com, she said: 'The parents outside stated that their child told them a kid brought golden shiny bullets to school and was thinking about bringing his gun. The student told the parent, who informed the school. And the school just yesterday got back to the parent saying the parent of the kid said it was a nerf bullet and the parent said nerf bullets aren't shiny and gold.' — The victim was identified as 25-year-old first grade teacher Abby Zwerner (Picture: Facebook/Abby Zwerner)

The child was placed in a police car with two officers monitoring him.

In the classroom, officers recovered a spent shell casing, a backpack, a cell phone, and a 9mm handgun. ‘The firearm was recovered close to the student’s desk where the shooting occurred,’ Drew said.

The firearm belonged to the child’s mother, who had purchased it legally in York County, Drew said. That morning before school, ‘the child obtained that firearm, placed in his backpack, and brought it to school.’

Drew called the teacher, 25-year-old Abigail Zwerner, a ‘hero’ and detailed how she put her students’ safety first – even after sustaining a gunshot wound.

Willow Crawford, left, and her older sister Ava, right, join friend Kaylynn Vestre, center, in expressing their support for Richneck Elementary School first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner during a candlelight vigil in her honor at the School Administration Building in Newport News, Va., Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. Zwerner was shot and wounded by a 6-year-old student while teaching class on Friday, Jan. 6. (AP Photo/John C. Clark) — Two Richneck Elementary School students hold signs supporting their teacher Abby Zwerner (Picture: AP)

‘The six-year-old child displayed a firearm, pointed it at her, and fired one round,’ Drew said. ‘There was no physical struggle or fight. She was providing instruction to her class.’

When the child raised the gun at Zwerner, she assumed a ‘defensive position’ with her hand outstretched. As a result, the bullet went through her hand before hitting her in the upper chest.

According to the police chief, Zwerner made sure every student was out of the classroom before running to the office to get help. When she got there, other staff members waited with her and provided first aid while waiting for help.

At 2.06pm paramedics arrived at the school. They evacuated Zwerner from the school by 2.11pm.

Messages of support for teacher Abby Zwerner, who was shot by a 6 year old student, grace the front door of Richneck Elementary School Newport News, Va. on Monday Jan. 9, 2023. The Virginia teacher who authorities say was shot by a 6-year-old student is known as a hard-working educator who???s devoted to her students and enthusiastic about the profession that runs in her family. (AP Photo/John C. Clark) — Messages of support for teacher Abby Zwerner posted outside Richneck Elementary School (Picture: AP)

She is now in stable condition, and has spoken to investigators. Drew said that her the first question she asked him was: ‘Do you know how my students are?’

‘I believe that Ms Zwerner saved lives on Friday,’ the police chief said. He also reiterated that ‘this shooting was not accidental. This was intentional.’

Police obtained an emergency custody order, and the six-year-old was transported to a hospital where he is being treated by doctors. Drew called the incident ‘unprecedented,’ and said they were working closely with Child Protective Services and other social work services for guidance.

Richneck Elementary School has cancelled classes for the rest of this week. They are still providing counseling and other services for families.

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