Teacher Testifies in $40M Classroom Shooting Suit

Former Richneck Elementary teacher Abby Zwerner testified in her $40 million civil suit in Newport News that she didn’t realize a then-6-year-old student’s gun was real until he pulled it from his pocket and shot her in January 2023, and she recounted believing she was going to die. Her complaint alleges assistant principal Ebony Parker ignored multiple warnings that the student, referred to as JT, had a firearm and refused requests to search the child despite reports from staff, including reading specialist Amy Kovac, and a backpack search that turned up nothing. Newly released body‑camera footage shown at trial captured first responders stretcher­ing Zwerner out, and medical witnesses testified she was hospitalized nearly two weeks, required six surgeries, still lacks full use of her left hand and has a bullet remaining in her chest, with injuries described as more similar to a war wound than typical civilian trauma. Jurors were shown images of the classroom and the gun used, and during cross‑examination Zwerner faced questions about possible substance use before the shooting. Zwerner was the final plaintiff witness as the case moves toward the jury’s decision on liability and damages; Parker also faces separate criminal charges related to the shooting.