The alleged shooter, a six-year-old student, reportedly boasted about shooting 25-year-old teacher Abigail Zwerner to another school official, stating, “I shot that b**** dead,” as detailed in a recently unsealed search warrant.
The incident occurred on January 6, 2023, at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia. Zwerner, who had reportedly been among several staff members expressing concerns about this particular student, suffered gunshot wounds to her left hand and upper torso.
An unsealed document, as reported by CBS News affiliate WTKR, disclosed the student’s alleged statements to reading specialist Amy Kovac, who assisted in restraining the boy until authorities arrived. According to the warrant, the student made several remarks to Kovac after the shooting, confessing to being the one responsible. He reportedly said, “‘I shot that b**** dead,’ ‘I did it,’ and ‘I got my mother’s firearm last night.'”
The student has not yet faced charges related to the shooting. However, his mother, Deja Taylor, has been charged with one felony count of child neglect and one misdemeanor count for improperly storing a firearm accessible to a child, resulting in potential harm. Taylor has already pleaded guilty to a federal charge related to possessing a firearm while using marijuana.
Zwerner has initiated a $40 million lawsuit against the local school board, the superintendent of schools, and the assistant principal of her school. The lawsuit alleges that they were all aware of the potential danger posed by the child but failed to take appropriate action. The suit states, “All Defendants knew that John Doe had exhibited aggressive behavior towards both students and teachers, with a motivation to harm anyone he encountered, both within and outside of the school.”
The lawsuit also asserts that the boy had been placed on a modified schedule by the school due to prior behavioral issues, including making threats, using profanity towards teachers, and chasing students on the playground with a belt in an attempt to harm them.