Lawonda Sample-Rusk was at the school to pick up her two grandchildren early.
Rusk told local news outlet WKTR that she and the school receptionist heard Zwerner cry out ‘I’m shot, I’m shot. Call 911.’
At first, they believed the teacher had just been wounded on her hand, but then she “’passed out on the floor.’ And there was a wound in her lower chest, as well.
The women stayed with Zwerner keeping pressure on the wound. Other school personnel herded young students to designated safe zones.
Zwerner was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.
Chief Steve Drew met with Abby Zwerner and her family on Saturday. And said her condition had been updated. Her wounds were described as “life-threatening.” And she is now in serious, but stable condition.
Drew also hailed Zwerner as a hero. And said she made sure all of the children in her class were safe and out of the room before she tried to get help for herself.
He also claimed that the first thing she asked him when he visited was “do you know how my students are.”
Unprecedented arrest
The six-year-old boy that shot his teacher was described as ‘combative.’ And he was physically detained by a school employee after the shooting. The police confirmed that he hit the person that was holding him.
