The classroom shooting by a 6-year-old student brought gun violence back into the national dialogue and shook Newport News, a city known for its military shipbuilding near the Chesapeake Bay.
Zwerner’s lawsuit alleges that school officials ignored several warnings about the child having access to a gun and exhibiting violent behavior. The shooting was reportedly intentional, and Zwerner maintains that the boy had a history of violent outbursts.
The “Personal” Element
In the ruling, Judge Hoffman emphasized that the shooting against Zwerner was a “personal” act on the part of the 6-year-old student. The child’s motive, as stated in the ruling, was unrelated to Zwerner or her role as a teacher. This personal motive is at the heart of the case’s complexity.
The school board has consistently argued that the shooting was, in essence, work-related, as the teacher-student relationship was the only connection between Zwerner and the young student. They question how the incident could be deemed anything other than related to Zwerner’s employment.
