After Being Shot by a 6-Year-Old Student, Teacher Abby Zwerner Wins $10 Million Jury Award in Landmark School Safety Case
It was the kind of story that shocked the nation — a classroom meant for first-graders turned into a crime scene after a 6-year-old student pulled the trigger. Nearly two years later, former teacher Abby Zwerner has finally found justice. A Virginia jury has awarded her $10 million in damages after determining that her former assistant principal, Ebony Parker, ignored multiple warnings that could have prevented the horrific 2023 shooting.
The verdict, reached on Thursday, November 6, was first reported by CNN and WTKR and later confirmed by People and The Washington Post. It’s a landmark decision that doesn’t just compensate one teacher for her pain — it sets a precedent about accountability in America’s schools. For Zwerner, the ruling closes a painful legal chapter but cannot erase the trauma that changed her life forever.
The case dates back to January 6, 2023, at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia. Zwerner, then 25, was teaching her first-grade class when one of her students, a 6-year-old boy, pulled a handgun from his backpack and fired a single shot. The bullet tore through Zwerner’s hand, entered her chest, and lodged near her spine. Despite being gravely injured, she managed to usher the rest of her students out of the classroom to safety before collapsing in the hallway.
Her courage that day was hailed nationwide. Doctors later confirmed that the bullet missed her heart by just a fraction of an inch — a difference that likely saved her life. Zwerner underwent six surgeries, months of physical therapy, and continues to deal with lasting pain, trauma, and partial disability in her left hand. “I thought I had died,” she told jurors during her testimony. “I thought I was either on my way to heaven or already there.”
But for Abby Zwerner, physical healing was only part of the story. What truly haunted her was knowing that the tragedy could have been prevented. Multiple staff members had reportedly warned the school’s administration earlier that day that the student might be carrying a weapon. According to court documents, at least four different people — including a teacher who said she saw the boy put something metallic in his backpack — expressed their fears to the assistant principal, Ebony Parker. Those warnings, the lawsuit claimed, were ignored.
That single failure of action became the heart of the case. Zwerner filed a $40 million lawsuit in 2023, accusing Parker and the Newport News school administration of gross negligence and reckless disregard for safety. During the trial, her attorneys argued that the entire tragedy was avoidable — that a series of missed opportunities led to a preventable nightmare.
After just over five hours of deliberation, the jury sided with Zwerner. They found that Parker bore direct responsibility for failing to act on credible warnings and awarded Zwerner $10 million in damages — one of the largest civil verdicts ever handed down in a teacher injury case. The courtroom reportedly fell silent as the decision was read aloud. Tears welled in Zwerner’s eyes as her attorneys placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
“This verdict sends a clear message,” her lawyer said outside the courthouse. “When teachers raise alarms about danger, schools must listen. Abby Zwerner should never have been forced to take a bullet in order for her voice to be heard.”
Parker’s attorneys, meanwhile, argued that her client had followed existing protocols and could not have foreseen that a first-grader would carry out a shooting. They maintained that several staff members shared responsibility for safety decisions that day and that “hindsight bias” unfairly shaped the jury’s perception. But to the public — and clearly to the jury — the story was one of gross indifference.
The case comes with chilling background details. Investigators revealed that the 6-year-old obtained the gun from his mother’s purse at home. The boy’s mother later pleaded guilty to federal firearm charges and was sentenced to nearly four years in prison. Prosecutors said the child had a history of behavioral issues but was still allowed to attend class without proper supervision that day.
A grand jury report later confirmed that several staff members had been warned repeatedly about potential threats before the shooting but failed to search the child properly or alert law enforcement. Those findings added weight to Zwerner’s case and painted a devastating picture of negligence.
The shooting left the Newport News community reeling and sparked a nationwide debate about gun safety, mental health, and accountability within the education system. For many educators, it reignited fears about the dangers they face daily.
In court, Zwerner spoke softly but firmly about her ordeal. She recalled the panic on her students’ faces, the ringing in her ears after the gunshot, and the excruciating pain as she tried to lead her students to safety. “They were just babies,” she said, her voice trembling. “My only thought was to get them out.”
Following the attack, she spent weeks in the hospital and endured multiple reconstructive surgeries. Even today, she suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and limited mobility in her hand. She told reporters that the emotional scars cut deeper than any physical wound.
The former teacher, who once loved shaping young minds, has since left the profession entirely. She recently completed training as a cosmetologist — a new career path she hopes will allow her to rebuild her confidence and sense of purpose. “I loved teaching,” she told People earlier this year. “But after what happened, I just couldn’t go back.”
The $10 million verdict isn’t just financial justice; it’s symbolic. It represents the acknowledgment of a failure that went beyond one person. It highlights systemic breakdowns in school safety — the kind that can turn an ordinary morning into a tragedy.
Legal experts say the verdict could reshape future school liability cases. It sends a powerful signal that administrators may be held personally accountable when they fail to act on warnings. “This is about culture,” one education attorney told The Washington Post. “Teachers should never feel like their safety concerns will be brushed aside. This verdict reinforces that duty of care.”
Still, questions remain. Will the school district appeal? How can policies change fast enough to prevent another tragedy? The district has not commented on whether it will challenge the ruling, but many believe the public pressure may discourage it from prolonging the legal fight.
Meanwhile, Parker is still facing a separate criminal trial on eight counts of felony child neglect, connected to her alleged inaction that day. Her lawyers have maintained her innocence, stating that the charges are excessive and politically motivated.
Outside the courtroom, Zwerner has received waves of support. Parents, fellow teachers, and even students from across the country have sent letters, artwork, and messages thanking her for her bravery. Social media has been filled with tributes calling her “a hero” and “the face of resilience.”
But Zwerner, ever humble, has repeatedly downplayed her own heroism. “I did what any teacher would do,” she said quietly after the verdict. “I protected my kids.”
Her victory in court, however, has made her a symbol of something greater — accountability, courage, and the need for change. Educators everywhere are calling for more mental-health resources, better threat-assessment systems, and stronger protections for staff and students alike.
For Abby Zwerner, the scars will always remain, but the verdict marks a new beginning. The woman who nearly lost her life in a classroom now stands as a voice for every teacher who has ever felt unheard, unprotected, or unseen.
“Schools should be places of learning, not fear,” she told reporters after the ruling. “I hope no other teacher ever has to live through what I did.”
As she walked out of the courthouse that day, surrounded by her family and legal team, Zwerner didn’t celebrate. She simply smiled — a quiet, tired smile that spoke of survival. The applause from bystanders echoed not just for her, but for every teacher who continues to stand at the front of a classroom, choosing courage over fear.
