5th-Grader Threatens Same VA School Where Boy, 6, Shot Teacher: Report

NEWPORT NEWS, VA — A fifth-grade student at the Newport News school where police say a 6-year-old boy shot his teacher last month told other students in a group text last weekend they planned to “pop some bullets” and “tell someone to shoot up the class," according to an ABC News report.

Newport News police are investigating the threat at Richneck Elementary School, which came six weeks after authorities accused a 6-year-old boy of shooting teacher Abigail Zwerner inside a first-grade classroom.

According to ABC News, Richneck school administrator Karen Lynch sent a letter to parents on Monday telling them about the incident. One of the students in the group chat told their parent about the message, who then notified school officials, ABC News reported.

The student was immediately "excluded from school," according to Lynch's letter.

News of the recent threat came the same week authorities finished their investigation into Zwerner's shooting and turned the case over to the local prosecutor's office for review.

Police said the 6-year-old boy took his mother's 9mm handgun to school on Jan. 6, pulled it from his backpack and used it to shoot Zwerner.

Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew has repeatedly characterized the shooting as "intentional," saying the boy aimed at Zwerner and fired one round, striking her in the hand and chest.

Drew said the case was turned over to Newport News Commonwealth's Attorney Howard Gwynn, who will determine if any charges will be filed.

The shooting rippled through Newport News, prompting the school to install metal detectors and the board to fire Superintendent George Parker III after he faced a barrage of criticism following the shooting.

Zwerner was hospitalized for nearly two weeks but she was sent home to continue her recovery.

The shooting at Newport News was a topic of discussion again when another 6-year-old, this time in Norfolk, reportedly brought a gun to school on Feb. 16.

According to Norfolk police, Letty M. Lopez, 35, of Norfolk, was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and allowing a child access to a loaded firearm after her child, a student at Little Creek Elementary School, was found with a gun.

When police arrived, authorities said a handgun was turned over to officers by school staff. Police did not say how the gun was discovered.

No injuries were reported, according to Norfolk authorities.