Ongoing · Law & Policy
3d · Developing story, no final ruling
AI illustrationA 6-year-old shot his teacher. She sued the assistant principal who got the warnings. Was the jury right?
Your callA jury awarded the teacher $10 million. Was the jury right?
TL;DR
- 1On January 6, 2023, four teachers at Richneck Elementary in Newport News, Virginia, warned assistant principal Ebony Parker that a first grader might have a gun; she reportedly said his pockets were too small for a gun.
- 2About an hour later the 6-year-old shot his teacher, Abby Zwerner, through the hand and chest. Zwerner sued Parker for gross negligence; the defense called the shooting largely unthinkable.
- 3In November 2025 a jury found Parker grossly negligent and awarded Zwerner $10 million. In May 2026 a judge Parker's separate criminal charges, saying the conduct was not a crime under Virginia law.



