Trending Now - Trial Reveals Ignored Warnings Before Teacher's Shooting by Student

WHO:

Fox News - Abby Zwerner, the teacher who was shot.

CNN - Ebony Parker, the former assistant principal of Richneck Elementary School.

CNN - Josh Jenkins, Assistant Commonwealth Attorney.

CNN - Curtis Rogers, defense attorney for Parker.

CNN - Deja Taylor, the boy's mother.

WHAT:

Fox News - Zwerner testified that the 6-year-old who shot her had been acting defiant and showed warning signs.

CNN - Parker is on trial for eight counts of felony child abuse and disregard for life.

CNN - Prosecutors allege Parker committed a "willful act or omission" that showed reckless disregard for human life.

CNN - The 6-year-old boy shot Zwerner in the chest and hand.

CNN - The boy had taken an unsecured gun from his mother’s purse and brought it to school in his backpack.

CNN - Zwerner was awarded $10 million in a civil lawsuit against Parker.

WHERE:

Fox News - Richneck Elementary School, Newport News, Virginia.

WHEN:

CNN - The shooting occurred in January 2023.

CNN - Parker resigned two weeks after the shooting.

CNN - Taylor was sentenced to two years in prison in 2023 and released from state custody to community supervision on May 13.

CNN - Parker's trial is expected to last about three days.

WHY:

CNN - Multiple teachers warned Parker that the child may have a firearm, but she took no action.

CNN - Prosecutors allege Parker was aware of the student’s ongoing disciplinary issues, including an attempt to choke a teacher.

HOW:

CNN - Parker advised against searching the child for a weapon despite warnings from teachers.

(UPDATED May 19, 2026 23:22 UTC)

In a significant trial at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, former assistant principal Ebony Parker faces eight counts of felony child abuse and disregard for life following a shooting incident involving a 6-year-old student. The child, who had taken an unsecured gun from his mother's purse, shot teacher Abby Zwerner in the chest and hand, and Zwerner testified that the boy had shown defiant behavior and warning signs prior to the incident. Prosecutors allege that Parker ignored multiple warnings from teachers about the potential presence of a firearm and failed to act on the child's ongoing disciplinary issues, with the trial expected to last about three days.