A 6-year-old boy who shot and seriously injured a first-grade teacher at a Virginia elementary school had previously abused staff, assaulted classmates, and strangled another female teacher, a female teacher said in a lawsuit. .
A copy of Abby Zwerner’s statement to the Newport News City Department of Education was contained in a solicitation filed by Attorney Diane Toscano, a copy of which the Associated Press obtained.
The boy said that before that, he used to swear at faculty members and hit his classmates with a waist belt, and once strangled a female teacher from behind so she couldn’t breathe, and then an assistant teacher forcibly removed it.
The Associated Press obtained the affidavit in a public interest release request, and the boy’s other misconduct was contained in a description of trouble with classmates and teachers at Richneck Elementary School in downtown Newport News.
Two days before the shooting, the boy said that he had deliberately hit and smashed Zwerner’s mobile phone. The child, who was suspended for a day because of it, went to school the next day and took a 9mm pistol out of his pocket and fired at the teacher sitting at the desk in front of the classroom.
“It was a miracle that more people weren’t hurt,” said Toscano’s lawyer. The child had a pistol in his pocket the whole time, even during breaks, and his gun was loaded and could be fired at any time… . He also went in and out of places where a lot of first graders were playing.”
Another case of strangling a teacher was also confirmed by the victim himself. The female teacher, who requested anonymity, said in 2021 that the child came up behind her in her chair in her classroom, strangled her with her arms, pulled her hard down her back, and her assistant teacher said she said that there was a case of separating the child of
She reported this to the school authorities, including the principal, but she couldn’t even get the support or comfort she expected, and she said she couldn’t speak anymore and remained silent for fear of reprisal from the school district.
“I was afraid all year round about it. Because being strangled and not being protected means that neither I nor the children nor my fellow teachers are protected if he does something more harmful or lesser,” she said.
Fortunately, the child later transferred to another class at another school.
Zwerner, a teacher at Richneck Elementary School, along with three other teachers and a counselor, asked the school authorities to warn them via broadcast that the child had a gun, but there was no response.
If the principal or school authorities had acted in response to the teacher’s request, the shooting at Zverner would not have happened, the lawyer argued.
Despite the teachers’ suggestions, Deputy Principal Parker insisted on not responding instead of calling the police. The child showed the gun to another student in the same class around 1:00 pm that day and threatened to shoot him if he told the teacher, and the teacher relayed this to the third and fourth teachers in the office.
After hearing the fourth teacher’s words, Parker said he was aware of the danger and searched the child’s school bag but found no gun.
After discussing it again, the teachers reported again that the child had a gun on her body, and the male counselor said that she would conduct a body search. But Parker refused, saying no because it was time for the child’s parents to come pick him up soon.
Eventually, about 45 minutes later, the child took out a gun and fired at the teacher, and Zwerner was shot in the left hand and left chest.
Assistant Principal Parker resigned last month and has not yet been contacted. Lawyer Len Wallin, the school’s legal representative, responded that the school’s board would take legal action against Parker if necessary.
Meanwhile, teachers have expressed their position that getting shot by a young student on school grounds should not be established as another occupational hazard for teachers.
[리치먼드( 미 버지니아주)= AP/뉴시스]
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.