A judge in Virginia has dismissed all charges against Ebony Parker, a former assistant principal. Parker faced felony child abuse charges. The charges stemmed from an incident in January 2023 at her elementary school. A six-year-old student shot his teacher, Abigail Zwerner, during a class. Circuit Court Judge Rebecca Robinson agreed with Parker’s defence. They argued the state had not proven its case. This decision struck down all eight counts against her. These counts included disregard for life.
The court heard that Parker allegedly ignored warnings about the student. These warnings indicated the first-grader had a gun. Abigail Zwerner was injured in the shooting. She required surgery after a bullet went through her hand. It then struck her in the chest. Zwerner later received a GHS 10 million settlement. This settlement came from a lawsuit against Parker. The lawsuit claimed Parker ignored multiple warnings on the day of the shooting.
The incident occurred in Newport News, Virginia. Zwerner’s lawyers stated she told Parker the child was in a "violent mood." She also reported threats against another child. According to the lawsuit, Parker allegedly had no response. She reportedly refused to look up when concerns were raised. Other staff members also warned Parker. They alerted her that the boy might have a gun. Parker also allegedly rebuffed a request to search the child’s bag. Parker’s lawyer argued she could not have foreseen the event. They also claimed Zwerner exaggerated her injuries.
A jury had previously sided with Zwerner. They found Parker’s inaction was gross negligence. The child’s mother, Deja Nicole Taylor, faced charges too. She was charged with felony child neglect. The child took her gun to school. Taylor pleaded guilty in December. She received two years for state charges. She also got 21 months for federal gun charges. These federal charges involved lying about drug use on a gun form. Investigators found approximately 28 grams of cannabis in Taylor’s home. While cannabis is legal in Virginia, gun ownership by drug users is illegal. The child, who was not charged, told police he reached the gun by climbing. It was stored in his mother's handbag on a dresser.
This dismissal has implications for how schools handle warnings. It raises questions about accountability for administrators. Districts and educators will closely watch such cases. These events impact school safety protocols. They also affect teacher confidence and parental trust. The legal precedent set by this case can influence future actions. Decisions on school safety funding could also be affected. These are significant matters for public safety and education budgets.