A Virginia jury has awarded $10 million to former first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner, who was shot by a six-year-old student in her classroom in January 2023. The verdict found that former assistant principal Ebony Parker acted with gross negligence after failing to respond to multiple warnings that the child had a firearm on campus.
The jury deliberated for several hours over two days before siding with Zwerner. Interest on the $10 million award will begin accruing June 1, 2024.
The Day of the Shooting
The incident took place at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia. Zwerner was teaching her first-grade class when the young boy shot her, the bullet passing through her left hand and into her chest, where it remains lodged. She was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries and has since undergone multiple surgeries.
On the witness stand, Zwerner recalled the harrowing moment she was shot.
“I thought I had died. I thought I was either on my way to heaven or in heaven. But then it all got black,” she said.
She added that she now struggles with lasting pain and limited movement in her left hand.
What the Lawsuit Claimed
Zwerner’s lawsuit originally sought $40 million in damages, alleging that Parker ignored repeated warnings from staff that the child had a gun. Several school employees testified they had informed Parker that students reported seeing a firearm in the boy’s backpack, but no search was conducted.
Zwerner’s attorney, Kevin Biniazan, told jurors that the assistant principal “had the entire puzzle” of information needed to prevent the tragedy.
“A gun changes everything. You stop and you investigate,” he said. “You get to the bottom of it to know whether that gun is real and on campus so you can deal with it. But that’s not what happened.”
The lawsuit accused Parker of acting with “gross negligence and reckless disregard” for Zwerner’s safety.
During closing arguments, defense attorney Sandra Douglas argued that the case was about “real-time judgments, not hindsight,” and that the event was “unprecedented, unthinkable, and unforeseeable.”
Reactions and Aftermath
Following the verdict, Zwerner’s attorneys said they were “very happy with the outcome.” One of her lawyers, Diane Toscano, told reporters, “I remember just three years ago, almost to this day, hearing Abby’s story and thinking that this could have been prevented. Now, a jury of her peers agrees.”
Parker showed little reaction as the verdict was read. Both she and Zwerner have since resigned from the school district.
Zwerner has completed a cosmetology program but said she has not yet been able to work while she continues to recover physically and emotionally.
Related Legal Cases
The 6-year-old brought the firearm from home, authorities said. His mother, Deja Taylor, was sentenced to two years in state prison for child neglect related to the shooting and has also served time for federal firearm and drug charges.
Meanwhile, Parker faces eight counts of felony child abuse with disregard for life, one count for each bullet in the gun. Her criminal trial is set to begin later this month.
Who Pays the $10 Million?
The damages awarded to Zwerner are expected to be covered by the Virginia Risk Sharing Association, the insurance provider for the Newport News School Board. However, if Parker is convicted in her upcoming criminal trial, the insurance company could contest payment, arguing that criminal behavior voids coverage.
Legal experts note that even if the insurer isn’t obligated to pay, the pressure to compensate Zwerner may remain strong given the circumstances.
A Broader Message
The case has sparked national attention, raising questions about school safety, administrative responsibility, and how such a young child could gain access to a firearm.
Zwerner’s attorney emphasized that the verdict serves as a wake-up call: schools must take every report of a weapon seriously.
The tragic incident has left a lasting mark on Zwerner and the Newport News community — and the $10 million verdict reflects the jury’s belief that the shooting could, and should, have been prevented.
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