In a dramatic conclusion to a case that gripped the nation, a Virginia jury awarded $10 million in the former teacher lawsuit against Ebony Parker, the ex-assistant principal of Richneck Elementary School. This event happened in January 2023, prior to Abby Zwerner being shot.

Thursday's verdict found Parker negligent for ignoring repeated warnings that a 6-year-old student had brought a gun to school.

Former Teacher Abigail Zwerner Seeks $40 Million in Lawsuit Against Assistant Principal - USA Herald

The Incident That Shocked a Community

According to AP News, Zwerner was shot while sitting at a reading table in her classroom. The bullet narrowly missed her heart, lodging in her chest. She spent nearly two weeks in the hospital and underwent six surgeries to repair her injuries.

Zwerner, now 27, told the jury she initially believed she was dying as she collapsed in the school’s main office.

“I thought I was either on my way to heaven or in heaven,” she testified. “Then it all got black. My next memory is seeing two co-workers putting pressure where I was hurt.”

Despite her injuries, Zwerner managed to lead her students to safety moments after being shot—an act widely hailed as heroic.

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Former Teacher Lawsuit Against School Administrator

The lawsuit claimed that Ebony Parker, the school’s former assistant principal, failed to act on multiple reports that the boy had a gun in his backpack that morning. Several staff members, including a reading specialist, reportedly warned Parker hours before the shooting occurred.

Zwerner’s attorney, Jeffrey Breit, argued Parker had “a clear duty to protect staff and students” and ignored credible warnings.

“Who would think a 6-year-old would bring a gun to school and shoot their teacher?” attorney James Toscano told the jury. “It was Dr. Parker’s job to believe it was possible—and to investigate it.”

A judge previously dismissed the district’s superintendent and principal as defendants, leaving Parker solely liable in the $10 million verdict.

Defense Arguments and Jury Reaction

Parker’s attorney, Daniel Hogan, urged jurors to avoid “Monday morning quarterbacking,” insisting the tragedy could not have been foreseen.

“You will be able to judge for yourself whether or not this was foreseeable,” Hogan said in court. “The law requires you to examine people’s decisions at the time they make them.”

The jury disagreed, siding with Zwerner’s argument that Parker’s inaction directly led to the shooting.

Aftermath and Broader Implications of Former Teacher Lawsuit

The case has reignited national debate over school safety, administrative accountability, and access to firearms. The Associated Press noted that the shooting occurred on the first day the student returned from a suspension for slamming Zwerner’s phone.

Since the incident, Zwerner has left teaching and is now a licensed cosmetologist. Parker, meanwhile, faces a separate criminal trial later this month on eight felony counts of child neglect, each carrying up to five years in prison.

The shooting stunned the Newport News community and raised difficult cultural questions about how a child so young could gain access to a firearm.

“This case is about responsibility,” said Toscano after the verdict. “When a teacher says a child might have a gun, you don’t wait to find out if she’s right—you act.”

The Larger Conversation

The Former Teacher Lawsuit has become a landmark case in discussions about school safety and liability. As schools nationwide grapple with threats and the rise of youth gun violence, Zwerner’s victory may set a precedent for holding administrators accountable when early warnings are ignored.

For now, Abby Zwerner’s courage—and the jury’s $10 million verdict—stand as a stark reminder that even in elementary classrooms, vigilance can mean the difference between life and death.

For More Details

Chief: 6-year-old shot Virginia teacher during class lesson | AP News

Shooting by 6-year-old raises complex cultural questions | AP News

A former teacher shot by student, 6, wins $10M jury verdict against ex-assistant principal