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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.

The defense, however, contends that Zwerner could have taken her own action to protect herself. Under cross-examination, Parker’s attorney suggested that the teacher bore some responsibility for failing to remove herself or the students from danger.

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Living With Lasting Scars

The shooting left Zwerner struggling with both physical and emotional challenges. She described being unable to open a bag of chips or twist off a water bottle cap due to her hand injury.

“I eventually asked someone else to open it,” she recalled. “The smallest things remind me of what happened.”

The emotional wounds run even deeper. Zwerner shared that she broke down before seeing the musical Hamilton with family because scenes of dueling triggered flashbacks. “I just wanted to stay home,” she said through tears.

Since leaving teaching, Zwerner has completed cosmetology school and now works part-time at a gym. “I had to start feeling like a person again,” she said.

In a TODAY Show interview months after the attack, Zwerner reflected on her recovery: “I’m not sure when the shock will ever go away because of just how surreal it was… I think about it daily. Sometimes I have nightmares.”

What Comes Next

Though Parker is the only remaining defendant, any damages awarded in Zwerner’s favor would likely be paid by the Virginia Risk Sharing Association, an insurance pool representing local public entities, including the Newport News School Board.

As the trial continues, Zwerner’s testimony stands as a harrowing reminder of the human toll of school violence—and the potential failures of those entrusted to prevent it.