Newport News, Virginia – A former assistant principal at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, is facing felony child neglect charges more than a year after a 6-year-old student brought a gun to school and shot his first-grade teacher. Ebony Parker has been accused of showing a reckless disregard for the safety of students at the elementary school, according to indictments unsealed by a special grand jury in Newport News.
The incident, which occurred on January 6, 2023, led to a $40 million negligence lawsuit against Parker and other school officials by the teacher who was shot, Abby Zwerner. The lawsuit alleges that Parker and others ignored multiple warnings about the boy having a gun and exhibiting violent behavior on the day of the shooting.
Criminal charges against school officials in the wake of school shootings are rare, experts note. Parker, 39, is facing eight felony counts, each carrying a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison. Parker’s attorney, Curtis Rogers, has yet to comment on the charges.
Details of the criminal case against Parker are limited, with court documents only outlining the charges and describing the alleged willful act or omission that showed a reckless disregard for human life. The student who shot Zwerner reportedly took his mother’s handgun from home and brought it to school concealed in a backpack.
Zwerner’s lawsuit highlights multiple warnings given to school administrators before the shooting, including concerns about the student’s behavior and threats of violence. Despite these warnings, Parker allegedly took no action when alerted to the possibility of the student having a gun.
Furthermore, the lawsuit reveals that Parker prevented a counselor from searching the student and claimed the student’s mother would soon arrive to pick him up, moments before the shooting occurred. The incident left Zwerner hospitalized for nearly two weeks with serious injuries.
In efforts to block Zwerner’s lawsuit, Parker and other defendants, including a former superintendent and the Newport News school board, have argued that her injuries should fall under Virginia’s workers’ compensation law. However, their attempts have so far been unsuccessful, with the trial scheduled for January.
Authorities have been investigating the actions of school employees following the shooting, with prosecutors considering whether any security failures contributed to the incident. This case sheds light on the rare occurrence of school officials facing criminal charges in relation to school shootings, typically leading to civil lawsuits rather than criminal prosecution.