Abigail Zwerner: Teacher shot by 6-year-old student reveals bullet is still in her chest, says 'it will always be there'
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some. Readers discretion advised.
NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA: Abigail Zwerner, an elementary teacher from Virginia, sustained serious injuries after being shot by a 6-year-old student on January 6. She still has a bullet lodged in her chest from the “shocking” incident, which she spoke about for the first time in an interview.
With the bullet still lodged in her chest, an emotional Zwerner said, “I think it will always be there.” She recalled the traumatizing experience of seeing an open wound on her body and remembering how she got it, according to her interview with NBC’s 'Today.'
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What further damage did the bullet do?
Zwerner underwent another operation on her left hand to repair the damage caused by the bullet which initially pierced the middle bone, damaging the thumb and index finger before entering her chest. She said, “At first, it really shook me up seeing an open wound on your body and remembering how you got it is pretty traumatizing.”
Zwerner believes that the bullet did not kill her because it went through her hand before penetrating her chest and collapsing her lung. She said, “I remember him pointing the gun at me, I remember the look on his face, I remember the gun going off. It’s changed me. It’s changed my life.”
'I’m just so thankful'
Zwerner is taking legal action against the district and feels that administrators should have done more to prevent the incident. “There are multiple people responsible for those failures,” Zwerner's attorney Diane Toscano told the show host. She struggles to get out of bed on some days but tries to stay positive in the wake of her trauma. Her optimism is buoyed by the outpouring of public support. Zwerner said, “I’m just so thankful. Their messages, their cards, their support has not gone unnoticed.”
'I just wanted to get my babies out of there'
Zwerner’s story drew attention from the public, particularly after reports of how she ushered the rest of her students to safety before stumbling to the office for help, where she ultimately collapsed from her injuries. She recalled, “My initial reaction was - your children need to get out of here. This is not a safe classroom anymore. You need to get them out of here, and then you need to go find help for yourself.” She said, “I just wanted to get my babies out of there.”
Zwerner’s mother and twin sister supported her during the interview. Her mother remembered the moment she saw her daughter in the hospital after the shooting. She said, “She called me ‘mommy.’ That’s when I knew this was real.”