Teacher Shot by 6-Year-Old Student Speaks Out in Civil Trial

Abby Zwerner, the Virginia elementary school teacher who was shot by her 6-year-old student in January 2023, took the stand to testify in her civil trial against former assistant principal Ebony Parker on Thursday. Zwerner described the traumatic experience, saying she thought she was dying and had a "very blank look" on the student's face as he pulled the trigger. She also shared how she still struggles with physical and emotional trauma, including being afraid to go out in public and feeling distant from friends.

Key Takeaways:

• Zwerner's lawsuit alleges that Parker ignored multiple warnings that the 6-year-old student may have had a gun in his possession, which led to the avoidable shooting. Parker is accused of forbidding teachers from searching the student for a firearm, saying his mother would pick him up soon.
• The lawsuit claims that the boy had a history of violent behavior, including strangling and choking a teacher and pulling up a female classmate's dress on the school playground during the previous school year.
• Zwerner's injuries were devastating, with her lung collapsing and a bullet missing her heart by mere centimeters. She underwent six surgeries and is still recovering, with permanent damage to her left hand.
• Zwerner's lawyers presented body cam footage and police scene photographs into evidence, showing the traumatic aftermath of the shooting.
• Parker is the only defendant in the lawsuit, which includes a $40 million claim against her for failing to act on warnings about the student's behavior.
• The case could set a precedent for charging school officials with neglect in the aftermath of a school shooting, as charging school officials is rare, according to a law professor at the University of Virginia.

Statistics:

• As of October 26, there have been 356 mass shootings in the US this year, leaving at least 300 people dead and 1,600 injured, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
• 64 school shootings have taken place in the United States so far this year, with 27 of those occurring on K-12 school grounds.
• The student's mother was sentenced to nearly four years in prison for child neglect and federal weapons charges related to the shooting.
• The boy's mother had no prior criminal record and cooperated with authorities after the shooting.

Sources:

• CNN All Access
• University of Virginia Law Professor Darryl K. Brown
• CNN Coverage of the Teacher Shot by Student Trial
• Associated Press Report
• Gun Violence Archive