Former Virginia teacher Abigail Zwerner testified Thursday that she feared she was dying after being shot by a 6-year-old boy in her first-grade classroom at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia.
The incident occurred on January 6, 2023, leaving Zwerner critically injured and emotionally scarred.
Abigail Zwerner Gives Emotional Testimony
“I thought I was dying, I thought I had died,” she told jurors in the Newport News Circuit Court. “I thought I was on my way to heaven or in heaven. But then it all got black.”
The bullet passed through Zwerner’s hand before striking her in the chest, where it remains. A doctor testified that removing it would be too risky. Despite surviving, Zwerner said the trauma still haunts her daily.
The $40 Million Lawsuit Against Ebony Parker
Zwerner’s $40 million civil lawsuit targets former assistant principal Ebony Parker, who she alleges ignored repeated warnings that the 6-year-old student had brought a gun to school.
According to court documents, multiple teachers alerted Parker about the possible weapon on the day of the shooting. One testified she reported it three separate times, while another said she also informed Parker after a student tipped her off.
“Entirely Preventable” According to Abigail Zwerner Legal Team
Zwerner’s legal team argues that the shooting was “entirely preventable” had Parker acted on those warnings. “It was my understanding that the administration wouldn’t think twice when alerted about a potential gun in school,” Zwerner told the jury.
