Ebony Parker, former assistant principal of Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, appeared in court on 18/5, facing eight felony child neglect charges. These charges stem from an incident where a six-year-old student brought a gun to class and shot his teacher.

According to prosecution records, each charge corresponds to one of the bullets found in the Taurus 9 mm handgun the boy brought to school. If convicted, Parker could face a maximum of five years in prison for each count.

The indictment states that on 6/1/2023, the six-year-old took a legally owned handgun from his mother, hid it in his backpack, and brought it to Richneck Elementary School. During class, the student fired the gun, injuring 25-year-old teacher Abigail Zwerner.

At the time of the incident, Ms. Zwerner was reading with students in her class. She was hospitalized for nearly two weeks, underwent six surgeries, and still has not regained full use of her left hand. A bullet remains lodged in her chest, close to her heart.

The shooting shocked the US public, prompting widespread questions about how a six-year-old could bring a weapon into a school and shoot a teacher. Legal experts in the United States note that criminal prosecution of school leaders following school shootings is rare.

Ebony Parker, former assistant principal of Richneck Elementary School. Photo: AP

Prosecutors allege that on the morning of the incident, a school employee informed Parker that the boy might have a gun in class. However, Parker allegedly failed to take any action or conduct a timely inspection.

The prosecution asserts that Parker had a responsibility to protect both teachers and students after receiving warnings about the potential safety risk. Hours after the warning, the shooting occurred. Despite her severe injuries, teacher Abigail Zwerner managed to evacuate students from the classroom before collapsing in the school office.

Last November, a jury awarded Ms. Zwerner 10 million USD in a civil lawsuit against the school administration. The six-year-old boy was not prosecuted for the shooting. However, his mother was later sentenced to nearly four years in prison for child neglect and federal weapons violations. She testified to authorities that the boy had climbed onto a cabinet to retrieve the gun, which she had stored in a bag.

Hai Thu