Brittaney Gregory: Parent claims teacher Abigail Zwerner tried to grab student's gun just before being shot
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers' discretion advised.
NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA: A parent has now spoken up after a first-grade teacher was shot by a six-year-old student at Richneck Elementary School on January 6. Brittaney Gregory whose child also goes to the same school and was in class when the unfortunate incident happened has reportedly said that the victim, Abigail "Abby" Zwerner, was about to take the gun from the child when he fired at her.
The 25-year-old is said to be in a critical but stable situation at a hospital after the episode. It has been reported that Zwerner had just completed her session with the students when the child shot her. Gregory told The Washington Post, “she was going to confiscate it, and that's when he shot,” who also noted that the teacher was her students’ favorite.
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The mother reportedly shared, “She’s such a sweet lady. She’s very attentive to the kids.” She also said that Zwerner often used to give sweet notes to her students. Moreover, Gregory’s son had also received some notes, which read, “I hope you had a great day,” and “I want you to know your smile is contagious.”
Besides, Gregory mentioned the shooting has affected her son mentally. She told the publication, “He normally sleeps in his own room but the night of the shooting he came into my room. He was talking in his sleep, saying we got to get out of here,” before commenting on the student who Zwerner. She added, “It’s very devastating. It’s sad that such a young child holds so much anger.”
Another parent Sebastian Gonzalez-Hernandez had earlier said that even after getting injured, the victim was concerned for the children. He reportedly said, “She screamed at her kids to run away. Even after she'd been shot she was thinking about the safety of her children.” Gonzalez-Hernandez also added, “My son didn't see what happened, he heard the gunshot go off, and turned around to see Miss Zwerner on the floor. She is an amazing teacher, so dedicated. My son absolutely loves her, and we're devastated about what's happened. We are all thinking of her and hoping that she gets better soon.”
Meanwhile, Andrew Block, associate professor at the University of Virginia School of Law and the former director of the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice, stated that chances are very low that the shooter child will face any legal action. He reportedly said, “As a practical matter, it would be next to impossible to prosecute a 6-year-old, no matter how serious. The bigger barrier, presuming the prosecution could overcome that, is all defendants have to be competent to stand trial."
“That means you have to understand the nature of legal proceedings against you and assist in your own defense. There’s no way a 6-year-old would meet that criteria,” he added. Block also noted that “the juvenile justice system would not be equipped to handle such a young kid,” before adding, “there’s way more we don’t know than we do. I can’t imagine what it’s like to be the teacher or teacher’s family; it's horrible in every single direction.”