Grand jury indicts ex-assistant elementary school principal over six-year-old shooting teacher

In January of last year, a six-year-old boy shot teacher Abigail Zwerner, who sustained a single wound and was hospitalized.

By Ben Whedon

Published: April 9, 2024 6:19pm

A grand jury indictment unsealed Tuesday included eight counts of child abuse against former Richneck Elementary School Assistant Principal Ebony Parker.

In January of last year, a six-year-old boy shot teacher Abigail Zwerner, who sustained a single wound and was hospitalized. Deja Taylor, the boy's mother, ultimately received a two-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to child neglect, admitting she had left the gun her son used on her dresser. She also admitted to using marijuana while owning a gun and separately received 21 months.

Parker has faced claims from Zwerner that she ignored multiple warnings that the boy had a gun. She is reportedly a fugitive and was charged last month with both child abuse and reckless disregard for human life, The Hill reported. Tuesday's grand jury charges were first reported by The Virginian-Pilot.

The Newport News School Board in January 2023 removed superintendent George Parker III amid Zwerner's claims that administrators ignored multiple warnings.

"On that day, over the course of a few hours, three different times – three times – school administration was warned by concerned teachers and employees that the boy had a gun on him at the school and was threatening people," Zwerner attorney Diane Toscano said at the time. "But the administration could not be bothered."

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.