The Shooting Teacher case at Virginia's Richneck Elementary School has resurfaced after newly released police bodycam footage showed the disturbing aftermath of a 6-year-old boy shooting his first-grade teacher, Abby Zwerner, in the chest. The footage captures the child, identified in court as J.T., threatening police officers and repeatedly using profanity immediately after the January 2023 classroom shooting.

The three-minute video was recorded by Newport News Police Officer Brian Torrez and was obtained by the Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press. It was later introduced as evidence during the trial of former Richneck Elementary assistant principal Ebony Parker.

Bodycam Captures Chaotic Scene

According to the supplied footage and reporting, officers responded to the classroom after J.T. fired a single shot at Zwerner in front of 16 first-grade students.

Reading specialist Amy Kovac had rushed into the classroom after hearing the gunshot. She found Zwerner bleeding and attempted to restrain the child.

The bodycam footage shows J.T. responding with profanity while Kovac tried to keep him under control. He also threatened officers, at one point telling them he did not care if he went to jail.

Police eventually located a 9mm Taurus handgun approximately 15 to 20 feet from the child.

An officer could be heard reporting over the radio that police had the shooter.

Child Said He Took Gun From His Mother

The supplied court information states that J.T. told officers he had taken the firearm from his mother.

Court documents say the boy climbed onto a dresser at home on the morning of Jan. 6, 2023, took the gun from his mother's purse, placed it in his backpack and brought it to school.

Later that afternoon, during reading class, he reportedly removed the firearm from a jacket pocket and fired one round at Zwerner from approximately 10 feet away.

The bullet struck Zwerner in the hand and chest, according to the supplied account.

The shooting left the teacher severely injured and ultimately became the subject of both criminal and civil proceedings.

Earlier Concerns About the Student

The newly released footage also provides additional context about concerns surrounding J.T. before the shooting.

Kovac told officers that the boy had been on a modified school schedule and that his mother had previously been expected to pick him up at 2:30 p.m.

She also indicated that the shooting occurred during his first week attending school without his mother accompanying him.

Earlier reports cited in the supplied material also describe concerns about the child's behavior before the shooting, including communications involving school administrators and staff.

The bodycam footage shows officers discussing the boy's age and asking whether smaller handcuffs were available.

Teacher Abby Zwerner's Long Recovery

Zwerner was struck by the bullet in front of her students and suffered severe injuries.

Her case subsequently resulted in litigation involving school officials. Former assistant principal Ebony Parker faced eight felony child-neglect counts connected to events preceding the shooting. Those charges were dismissed days later before the defense presented its case.

A separate civil case resulted in Zwerner being awarded $10 million following a trial that ended in November 2025.

The case has continued to draw attention because of questions about whether warning signs before the shooting were adequately addressed.

Mother Served Prison Time

J.T.'s mother, Deja Nicole Taylor, also faced legal consequences.

According to the supplied information, Taylor was sentenced to state prison for child neglect and later spent time in federal prison, in part for lying about drug use on a background-check form when purchasing the firearm used in the shooting.

She was released from prison in February.

J.T., who is now approximately 9 or 10 years old according to the supplied account, is living in Newport News in the custody of his great-grandfather.

Because J.T. was a young child at the time of the shooting, the legal proceedings involving him have been handled differently from adult criminal cases.

Related Links on the Crime and Child Shooter

Readers can review the reporting and background material supplied for this article through these links:

• Virginian-Pilot report on the newly released Richneck classroom video
• Daily Press report on the Richneck classroom footage
• New York Post: 6-year-old used his mother's gun to shoot teacher Abby Zwerner
• New York Post: Abby Zwerner discusses her injuries
• New York Post: Reports on concerns about the boy's behavior before the shooting
• New York Post: Former assistant principal charged with child neglect
• New York Post: Deja Taylor faces prison after her son shot Abby Zwerner

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