Teacher's Heartfelt Testimony After Being Shot by Student

A first-grade teacher, Abby Zwerner, recounted a harrowing experience in a Virginia courtroom, detailing her traumatic encounter when a six-year-old student shot her on January 6, 2023. Zwerner is pursuing a $40 million lawsuit against the former assistant principal, Ebony Parker, alleging negligence for ignoring warnings about the child's possession of a firearm prior to the incident.

During her testimony, Zwerner vividly described the moment she was shot while seated at the reading table in her classroom at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News. She recalled her immediate thoughts, saying, “I thought I was dying. I thought I had died. I thought I was either on my way to heaven or in heaven but then it all got black.” She expressed that after losing consciousness, her next memory was of two colleagues attending to her injuries.

Zwerner sustained grave injuries, requiring six surgeries, including damage to her hand and chest. The shooting left her with a bullet lodged near her heart and limited mobility in her left hand. Reflecting on her physical and emotional state, she shared, “Overall, I would say I do struggle with things, doing things.” Simple tasks, such as opening bags of chips and water bottles, have become challenging.

The tragic shooting occurred on the first day back at school for the young student, who had been suspended just two days prior for an incident involving Zwerner’s phone. The court heard that multiple warnings had been raised regarding the child's access to a firearm, with Zwerner's lawsuit claiming Parker failed to take appropriate action.

Parker's attorney, Daniel Hogan, argued that decision-making within public schools is a collaborative effort, suggesting that Parker could not have anticipated the shooting. As the only defendant in the lawsuit, Parker’s actions are under scrutiny, particularly for her alleged neglect in addressing the concerns raised by teachers and staff about the boy’s access to a gun.

Since the incident, Zwerner has left her teaching position and has no intentions of returning to the classroom. She has pursued a new career as a licensed cosmetologist but faced challenges in transitioning to this role due to her injuries. “I had a lot of pain, I had a lot of help, but I did it,” she noted about her journey towards recovery. Despite becoming licensed, she has struggled to find employment as her left hand continues to heal from surgery.

In her testimony, Zwerner disclosed that she has begun experiencing pain in her right hand and wrist, which were not directly injured in the shooting. This discomfort stems from overcompensation for her injured left hand. The incident has not only affected her physically but has also altered her emotional and professional trajectory.

The shooting incident has raised significant concerns nationwide regarding gun access among children and the alarming trend of violence in schools. The question of how a child as young as six could obtain a firearm has sparked discussions about gun crime and safety in the US education system.

The event sent shockwaves through the community and beyond, prompting a reevaluation of safety protocols in schools across the nation. Many are calling for increased measures to prevent similar tragedies, emphasizing the importance of addressing gun access and mental health resources for children.

Abby Zwerner’s testimony sheds light on the profound impact of gun violence in schools. As she navigates the challenges of recovery and adjusts to a new career, her story serves as a potent reminder of the urgent need for reform in gun legislation and school safety. The court case is not just about compensation; it represents a collective plea for change to ensure that such a tragedy does not occur again.