Crime & Safety

VA Teacher Shot By Boy, 6, Won't Return To Newport News Schools

While Abigail Zwerner's attorney said she was fired, according to a report, the school district said she resigned after a student shot her.

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The first-grade teacher who was shot by her 6-year-old student at the Virginia school has resigned from her position, school officials said Tuesday, June 13, more than two months after she sued the district for $40 million.
The first-grade teacher who was shot by her 6-year-old student at the Virginia school has resigned from her position, school officials said Tuesday, June 13, more than two months after she sued the district for $40 million. (AP Photo/Denise Lavoie)

NEWPORT NEWS, VA — The Virginia teacher who police say was shot by her first-grade student in January will not return to Newport News Public Schools, according to multiple reports.

Abigail Zwerner, who authorities said was shot by a 6-year-old boy inside a Richneck Elementary School classroom, is "not coming back in the fall," the school district and a source close to Zwerner told NBC News.

The source close to Zwerner requested anonymity, according to NBC News, while a spokesperson for the school district confirmed to NBC News that Zwerner's "separation of service" was effective Monday.

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Newport News police previously 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.

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. The shot resulted in severe injuries, including a lung collapse.

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In April, authorities announced the mother of the 6-year-old, Deja Taylor, would be charged with felony child neglect and misdemeanor recklessly leaving a loaded firearm so as to endanger a child.

On June 12, Taylor, 26, pleaded guilty to federal charges, including using a controlled substance while in possession of a handgun, according to media reports.

She pleaded guilty to one count of being an illegal drug user while possessing a firearm and one count of falsely claiming she did not smoke marijuana on the background check form she filled out when she purchased the handgun in 2022 that her son used in the shooting, according to court documents.

Federal law prohibits users of illegal drugs from possessing a firearm, and gun buyers must attest they are not drug users at the time they buy a gun.

The Washington Post reported Taylor's guilty plea, and noted that under its terms, prosecutors will recommend that she be sentenced to between 18 to 24 months in prison; the judge does not have to accept that recommendation. Taylor is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 18.

Taylor still faces state charges of felony child neglect and a misdemeanor count of recklessly storing a firearm so a child could gain access to it. She is set to go to trial on those charges Aug. 15.

Before Taylor's arrest, Zwener filed a $40 million lawsuit alleging school administrators ignored multiple warnings that the boy posed a threat.

Zwerner's complaint, filed in Newport News Circuit Court, says Richneck Assistant Principal Ebony Parker chose to "breach her assumed duty" to protect Zwerner "despite multiple reports that a firearm was on school property and likely in possession of a violent individual" according to NBC News.

Zwerner also alleges that school officials knew the boy "had a history of random violence" at school and home, including that he "strangled and choked" his kindergarten teacher.

In response to Zwerner's lawsuit, Newport News school officials argued that a court doesn't have jurisdiction and filed a motion to dismiss the case. In the motion, school officials said the possibility of violence in the classroom is a risk all teachers take.

"While in an ideal world, young children would not pose any danger to others, including their teachers, this is sadly not reality," the motion said.

Zwerner first notified the district of her intent to resign in March, district spokesperson Michelle Price told WAVY. Price said Zwerner notified the school system with an email reading: "I wish to resign. Thank you."

According to emails between Zwerner and the school district obtained by WAVY, the district processed a "separation of employment" for Zwerner effective June 12. The district also sent an email outlining items Zwerner was required to turn it and where she could direct questions about paychecks and benefits.

When contacted by WAVY, Zwerner's attorney, Jeffrey Breit, called it a firing.

"I don't think you can read this any other way than you've been fired," Breit told WAVY. "And that's what she thinks. She doesn't understand it; there's no other communication."

Breit also told WAVY the district hadn't paid Zwerner since February.

"They sent a check to her bank account," Breit said. "Her worker comp check – two-thirds of pay – they sent it to her. We immediately sent it back. This is not workers comp."

Newport News Public Schools refuted Breit's claim that Zwerner was fired in a statement Tuesday.

"Every employee who is separating from the school division receives a similar communication," the district said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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