Police Response to Incident
Newport News police officers and sheriff’s deputies responded swiftly to Richneck Elementary School on January 6, 2023, following a shooting incident where a 6-year-old student shot his teacher, Abby Zwerner. She and 16 students had exited Classroom 11, with Zwerner collapsing in the school office after the event. The young boy, identified as J.T., remained in the classroom, controlled by reading specialist Amy Kovac until the police arrived.
Body camera footage from Officer Brian Torrez, acquired by two local newspapers, shows the boy using inappropriate language towards Kovac and the officers upon entry into the classroom, which was decorated for a first-grade setting. Kovac informed the officers about the presence of the gun and the boy’s admission to having one round. In reality, the gun had several rounds in it.
A sheriff’s deputy discovered the firearm on the floor, around 15 to 20 feet away from the boy. Throughout the encounter, Kovac maintained control of the situation, ensuring the child remained restrained until officers could secure the scene.
Details of the Shooting Incident
Shortly before the police arrived, the boy had retrieved the gun from his jacket during a reading class, firing a single shot at Zwerner from approximately 10 feet away. The bullet passed through her hand, with a large fragment entering her chest close to her heart.
Zwerner later received a $10 million jury verdict against former assistant principal Ebony Parker. During Parker’s criminal trial in May, the body cam footage was entered as the first exhibit, as she faced charges of felony child neglect for allegedly disregarding warnings about the boy’s possession of a gun.
Legal Proceedings and Video Evidence
The former assistant principal faced eight counts of felony child neglect. Circuit Court Judge Rebecca M. Robinson admitted the video evidence into the trial. However, the next day, the judge moved to seal the video to protect the identity of the minor involved.
Later, the Daily Press and The Virginian-Pilot legally contested the sealing, arguing it infringed on First Amendment rights. After a court hearing, Judge Robinson ordered the video to be unsealed, with the stipulation that the child’s face remain blurred.
Background and Further Impact
The incident led to legal consequences for the boy’s mother, Deja Nicole Taylor, who served prison time for child neglect and lying during a gun purchase. She has since been released, while the boy resides with his great-grandfather in Newport News.
Media outlets faced challenges in reporting the story due to its sensitive nature. Editors at the Daily Press and The Virginian-Pilot discussed whether or not to broadcast the body camera footage. Ultimately, they decided on allowing its release due to its significance, while maintaining measures to hide the identities of those involved.
The incident and its aftermath underscore ongoing issues, including the responsibilities of school officials and the consequences of neglect.