In 2023, first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner was shot by her six-year-old student at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia. Now, after two years, Zwerner has sued the school district and her former administrator for $40 million for their failure to respond to concerns regarding a gun brought into school.

    The student brought his mother’s gun into school, shooting Zwerner through her hand and chest. Despite going through six extensive surgeries due to her injuries, Zwerner will never regain full control of her hand.

   Initially, Zwerner’s lawsuit was against the Newport News Public School Board and school officials. However, a judge dismissed the school board and the other officials, leaving Ebony Parker, the school’s assistant principal, as the sole defendant in this civil trial.

   Zwerner’s attorney, Kevin Biniazan, argued that Parker was notified of the gun issue on four separate occasions and did not take the necessary actions to confirm the reports made to her regarding the gun brought in. 

   Zwerner was awarded $10 million in damages on Nov. 6, and Parker will be facing a criminal trial for eight counts of felony child neglect, one for each bullet fired by the student.

   Zwerner no longer works for the school district and does not plan to teach again.

   As gun issues have become a rising threat to American schools, many schools, Deep Run included, have created safety precautions to prevent weapons from entering school grounds. Starting in 2022, Deep Run has placed metal detectors at each entrance point so that everyone who enters the school is checked for any weapons on their person. 

   The safety of students and staff is a main priority, and the case of Abby Zwerner only shows how important it is to ensure that schools are a safe place for everyone.