If you remember, back in January 2023, a school shooting happened in Virginia at the Richneck Elementary school, and that whole incident is in the headlines once again. Why? Well, a school teacher by the name Abigail Zwerner is suing a school official and the school itself that there were clear signs and the shooting could have been avoided. She is now demanding for $40 million because she got shot by a six-year-old student that day.
The Day That Changed Everything
The day that the school shooting happened, which was on January 6th, 2023, was a very unfortunate day for many, especially Abigail Zwerner. As we already told you, the school was Richneck Elementary School, Newport News, Virginia. Back then, Abby was just 25 years old, and when the shooting began, she was terrified to the core. And yes, she got shot too. The bullet pierced her left hand and then her upper chest. She was very badly wounded. But the thing is: the most amazing thing was that Abby kept her composure. In fact, she ensured the escape of each and every student from the classroom even after she had been shot, and it was only thereafter that she fainted. That was bravery of the highest order.
She was inpatient for almost two weeks in the hospital and underwent six operations. Part of the bullet is still lodged inside her body.
The Missed Warning Signs
We could also talk about the events leading up to that fatal day, couldn’t we?
Like, that very student, who later killed someone, had exhibited violent behavior in the past. He had strangled teachers, used insulting words when talking to the school staff, and he even damaged Abby’s phone only a few days prior to the incident. And just so you know, on the day the shooting happened, he had come back to the class after a one-day suspension.
It was informed repeatedly throughout the day. Four or more staff members at least, communicated to the Assistant Principal, Dr. Ebony Parker, that the boy might be in possession of a gun. One even conveyed that the child showed the gun to another student and made threats.
The counselor of the school was said to have requested to see the backpack of the boy, but Parker was alleged to have said that it would be better to wait for his mother. That waiting time was everything.
But nothing was done, at least on time.
The $40 Million Lawsuit
Following the shooting that Abby Zwerner was able to escape from, she chose to sue. She made a $40 million suit in 2023 against the assistant principal, Ebony Parker, alleging that Parker had been warned repeatedly and had, however, irresponsibly ignored her.
At first, Abby had brought action against the school board and the principal, besides the assistant principal. Due to “sovereign immunity,” which is a law granting protection to government employees against certain types of lawsuits, those charges were dropped. Consequently, only Parker remained as the defendant.
The trial was initially brought before the court in October 2025. From the very get-go, the attorneys for Abby maintain that Parker had the power to stop the catastrophe by his intervention numerous times, but he chose to remain inactive. On the other hand, supporters of Parker argue that no one can foretell that a child of 6 years will have a gun in a school and that such decisions should be taken by a group of members of the school rather than by one person only.
In short, this Abigail Zwerner Lawsuit is just about whether the whole thing could have been prevented if somebody or the school had intervened earlier, or at least looked into the matter before it all escalated and affected many lives.
