Virginia Teacher Shot By 6-Year-Old Student Identified

Sources have identified the teacher shot by a 6-year-old student in her Newport News, Virginia classroom as Abby Zwerner. 

WKTR reports that Zwerner is a first-grade teacher at the Richneck Elementary School. Police say Zwerner, who is in her 30s, was taken to Riverside Regional Medical Center and is listed in critical condition. 

Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew said the shooting happened Friday at around 2 p.m. after an altercation between the student and teacher. The boy was taken into custody, and police are working to determine how the child obtained the handgun.

Fox3 reported that a grandmother of one of Zwerner’s students stated that a student brought “bright gold bullets” to school last week, but it’s unclear if its the same student that’s in custody.

The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing. 

Richneck Elementary School serves about 550 students in grades kindergarten through fifth. No other students were injured during the incident.