Abby Zwerner files lawsuit over 6 year old student shooting
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Virginia Teacher Shot By Six-Year-Old Student Sues School District For $40 Million

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Abby Zwerner, the Newport News teacher shot by a six-year-old student in January, is filing a $40 million lawsuit in damages from school officials.

RELATED STORIES: Newport News Police Reveal Boy Used His Mother’s Gun To Shoot Teacher Abby Zwerner

The lawsuit was filed on Monday. It accuses Richneck Elementary School officials of gross negligence for allegedly ignoring several warnings that the child had a gun on the day of the shooting. According to the Associated Press, the suit named the Newport News School Board and other school district officials as defendants, including former Superintendent George Parker III. Neither the six-year-old student nor his parents have been charged with the shooting.

Zwerner’s attorneys also stated the defendants were aware of the boy’s history of random violence, which included him strangling and choking his kindergarten teacher the year before. “All Defendants knew that John Doe attacked students and teachers alike, and his motivation to injure was directed toward anyone in his path, both in and out of school, and was not limited to teachers while at the school,” the lawsuit said.

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“Teachers’ concerns with John Doe’s behavior (were) regularly brought to the attention of Richneck Elementary School administration, and the concerns were always dismissed. Often after he was taken to the office, “he would return to class shortly thereafter with some type of reward, such as a piece of candy,”

Although the boy was removed from Richneck and sent to another school in 2022, he was re-enrolled for the 2022-2023 school year.  He was on a modified schedule, and his parents were required to accompany him during the school day. However, they did not want him to be placed in special education classes.

The lawsuit state Zwerner has suffered permanent bodily injuries, physical pain, mental anguish, and damages from the shooting, and she is seeking $40 million in compensation.

After learning about the lawsuit, many social media users expressed their support for Zwerner, who was previously hailed a hero for saving her students after she was shot.

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