Richneck Elementary Shooting: Criminal Trial of Former Assistant Principal Dr. Ebony Parker
A tragic incident occurred over three years ago when a first-grade teacher, Abigail Zwerner, was shot by one of her students at Richneck Elementary. The upcoming criminal trial involves the school's former assistant principal, Dr. Ebony Parker, who is facing child abuse charges related to the shooting incident. The civil trial held in November found Parker negligent and awarded Zwerner $10 million in damages.
During the civil trial, Zwerner's attorneys argued that Parker failed to act on warning signs that the student had brought a gun to the school. Parker's defense team contends that being injured is a risk that comes with being a teacher, especially in dealing with young students. The criminal trial will address the 8 child abuse charges against Parker, corresponding to the number of bullets in the gun during the shooting.
Zwerner's attorneys expressed hope that this case will set a precedent for school safety and accountability in similar situations. They emphasized the importance of prioritizing school safety to prevent incidents like this from occurring. The trial proceedings have included debates over witness testimonies, with the judge ruling in favor of allowing former teacher Susan White to testify about what Parker knew before the shooting.
The criminal trial against Ebony Parker is scheduled to commence on May 18th in Newport News. Stay updated on the latest developments by visiting WAVY.com for more information.