Police in Newport News, Virginia detained a six-year-old boy after he shot his female teacher on Friday, January 6, leaving her with life-threatening injuries. Her condition is stable, according to reports on Monday, January 9.
Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew confirmed the shooting during a press briefing saying that the six-year-old boy, a first-grader at the Richneck Elementary School, shot his teacher, adding that the police did not believe that the shooting was an accident.
Police say no students were injured during the incident.
Police said the teacher, identified as 25-year-old Abby Zwerner, was taken to a hospital in Newport News in critical condition.
According to a child witness in the classroom, the class was doing a reading lesson and was about to leave for art class, when the boy pulled out the gun from his backpack and pointed it at the teacher. She made a move to confiscate the gun, which prompted the child to shoot.
Mayor Philip Jones applauded the police and the Sheriff’s department for their swift response, adding that they ensured that everyone was accounted for and safe.
Police Chief Drew said that officers escorted all the children in the school to the gymnasium, where they were safe. He said that officers and counselors were in the gym with the children.
On Monday it was revealed that the 9mm Taurus handgun belonged to the child’s mother. It was purchased legally.
Authorities may have difficulty defining the exact action to be taken against the six-year-old due to his age.
On Saturday, the mayor said the boy had all the needed services. He said the incident, the first US school shooting of the year, was a red flag for the country.
The mayor hoped the incident would spark a nationwide discussion on preventing such shootings.
According to authorities, the shooting was intentional when the boy and Abby Zwerner got into an argument. The boy, who will remain unnamed because of his age, took out a handgun and shot his teacher in the abdomen. Zwerner reportedly told the rest of her class to flee as she lay bleeding.
In a statement released by Richneck Elementary School, Principal Briana Foster said the tragedy deeply impacted the school community.
A parent on the scene was furious with the incident and the systems that allow such a young child to bring a weapon into the school, saying that gun violence was the biggest problem in the US. She bitterly questioned why a six-year-old had a gun, urging the local and federal government to do something to prevent such incidents.
School shootings in the US are not rare, but an incident where the shooter is so young is almost unheard of. There have only been three other shootings by a six-year-old student since 1970. Those incidents involved other students and not teachers.
According to Virginia law, six-year-olds cannot be tried as adults and cannot be committed to the Juvenile Justice Department’s custody even when found guilty. However, authorities can revoke custody rights from the parents.
Officials said that the school has metal detectors, but students are checked at random.
