CNN
—
The mother of a 6-year-old boy who authorities say shot his teacher at a Virginia elementary school could face charges, Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew said Tuesday.
“I think it’s definitely a possibility,” Drew told ‘CNN This Morning’, a day after police confirmed the boy took the gun from his home and brought it to the hospital. school in his backpack on Friday before opening fire in a classroom at Richneck Elementary. school, injuring a teacher and sending her to the hospital.
Drew spoke with the Commonwealth prosecutor several times, he said, but stressed the investigation was still ongoing.
“We need to check with child protective services for any history. We need to check with the school system for any behavioral issues they might have and put them together,” he said. “There are still 16, 17 children that we want to work with a child psychologist to get a statement.”
“And at the end of the day when all of this is compiled and the facts and what the law supports, the Commonwealth solicitor will make the decision if there are any charges to come…against the parents,” said Drew.
Before police revealed the gun was legally purchased by the 6-year-old’s mother, Andrew Block, an associate professor at the University of Virginia School of Law, told CNN there was a scenario in which the parents could be held criminally liable if the gun belonged to them and they did not keep it properly locked away. But in Virginia, it’s just a Class 1 misdemeanor, Block said.
Without more information, “it’s hard to know whether or not there’s criminal liability, and who should have it,” said Block, a former director of the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice.
The boy was taken into custody on Friday and Drew said on Monday he was subject to a remand order and being evaluated at a hospital.
Police received the call that a teacher – later identified as first grade teacher Abigail Zwerner, 25 – had been shot at 1:59 p.m. Friday, Drew said. When officers entered the classroom where the shooting occurred five minutes later, they saw the boy was physically restrained by a school employee.
The 6-year-old was combative and punched the employee restraining him and officers took control, escorting him out of the building and into a squad car, police said.
The teacher “was giving instructions in class when the child showed a gun, pointed it at her and fired a bullet,” Drew said at Monday’s press conference. “There was no physical wrestling or fighting.”
Zwerner was congratulated by the municipal authorities for her response. Despite being shot in the chest through her hand, she made sure all of her students walked out of the classroom right after the shooting, Drew said. She was the last to leave her class, heading for the administration office.
“Abby was faithful as a teacher,” Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones said. “She made sure everyone was taken care of and she was the last to go.”
Although his injuries were earlier described as life-threatening, Zwerner is in stable condition, authorities said.
A GoFundMe page organized by Zwerner’s twin sister has raised more than $65,000 since its inception on Monday, donations that will go towards her recovery.
“Abby, my family and I are touched by the outpouring of support we received in the days following the event,” Zwerner’s sister wrote. “Thank you for all the prayers, well wishes and words of kindness.”
