On January 6, 2023, Newport News police officers and sheriff’s deputies responded swiftly to a shooting incident at Richneck Elementary School involving a 6-year-old student. Abby Zwerner, the teacher who was shot, along with 16 students, evacuated Classroom 11. Zwerner collapsed in the office, while the student remained in the classroom.
Body camera footage from Officer Brian Torrez revealed the boy’s aggressive behavior, including foul language and threats directed at reading specialist Amy Kovac and the officers. The footage shows the classroom decorated with the alphabet and colorful motifs, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
Kovac identified that the boy had admitted to having a gun, although there were additional rounds in the jammed handgun found 15 to 20 feet from the child. Kovac restrained the boy, who resisted and continued using offensive language towards the officers.
The authorities discovered the gun on the floor, and a sheriff’s deputy guarded it. Kovac relayed to the officers that she had warned an assistant principal of the threat earlier. The conversation also revealed details about the boy’s schedule and prior arrangements with his mother.
Officer Torrez communicated over the radio, confirming the situation and securing the gun. Kovac provided insights into how she came to the scene, noting the gunshot echoing down the hallway and spotting Zwerner with blood.
Despite Kovac’s attempts to communicate and calm the boy, he responded with profanity and crude gestures. Police assessed the gun residue on the boy’s hands while Kovac and the officers maintained control in the classroom.
The boy confessed to stealing the gun from his mother’s purse that morning. The officers continued managing the unfolding situation, working through the boy’s defiance with calm restraint.
The trial footage revealed that the boy had brought the weapon to school, removing it from his jacket pocket before shooting Zwerner during a reading class. The bullet injured her hand and left a fragment near her heart.
Zwerner later won substantial compensation in a legal case against the former assistant principal, Ebony Parker, who faced charges for neglecting warnings about the presence of the gun. However, Parker’s charges were later dismissed.
Legal proceedings took various turns, including challenges to the sealing of trial footage depicting the incident. Ultimately, Judge Rebecca M. Robinson ordered the footage unsealed, provided the child’s identity was protected.
The boy remains in custody with his great-grandfather. His mother, Deja Nicole Taylor, served prison time for related offenses and has been released.
An editors’ note discusses the decision to publish the footage. Despite initial reservations, the video was eventually deemed essential for understanding the wide-reaching consequences of the incident. The publication adhered to minimal editing, ensuring the story remains authentic yet respectful of privacy concerns.
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