She got hurt, the parent said. Richneck Elementary serves more than 550 students; more than half of them are Black and Hispanic, and about a quarter are white. He pointed to other tactics, such as locking doors and installing security cameras, and urged a focus on mental health and conflict resolution. Biden announces aggressive new, Newsfeed Now: Biden to launch new plan against COVID-19, Newsfeed Now: Health experts concerned about COVID-19, Newsfeed Now: Pres. We offer gun locks, free of charge, to parents who do say that they have firearms in the home that arent securely stored, Andrews said. I'm only here because my husband was in the military or otherwise, I would not have chosen this country," the mother declared. The teacher, a woman in her 30s, suffered "life-threatening" injuries and remains in critical condition, according to police reports. "We have been in contact with our commonwealth attorney and some other entities to help us best get services to this young man," Drew said. But school shootings by a suspect so young are relatively rare. 5:03 AM EST, Sun January 15, 2023. Abigail Zwerner, a first-grade teacher, was the only person injured in the shooting on Jan. 6. 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The altercation was between a 6-year-old, the student, who did have the firearm, and the teacher, and then a round was fired, Drew had said. "This was not an accidental shooting," Police Chief Steve Drew told reporters during an evening press conference. Discovery Company. The problem with many child access prevention laws is that there isnt enough clear guidance on how guns should be stored in a way that is safe and secure, she added. I was very nervous just wondering was that one person my son?. Tuesdays school board meeting was the first opportunity for public venting since the shooting of first-grade teacher Abigail Zwerner on Jan. 6. A series of school shootings over less than two years in Newport News has exacted a heavy toll on the community, Mr. Eley said. Shootings involving children are entirely preventable, he said. As of the 2017-18 school year, Newport News Public Schools served about 28,000 students, more than half of them Black and nearly a quarter of them white, with smaller shares of Hispanic and Asian students. The victim has been identified as 32-year-old James Curtis Jones. I believe she did save lives, because I dont know what else might have happened.. One mother on scene spoke with us, demanding the government do something about the violence in our country. ", "It's a dark day for Newport News," Jones said. WTVR. Virginia law prohibits leaving a loaded gun where it is accessible to children under 14, but in contrast to some other states, such as Oregon and Massachusetts, there is not a broad law that requires all guns to be safely stored in homes. You've got beautiful people, but what's the problem? As a pediatrician, Andrews said in recent years she has focused on making it more acceptable in her workplace to ask the parents of children during checkups if they have firearms in the home and if they are securely stored. What we know and don't know about the case of a 6-year-old who allegedly shot his teacher. He said a survey conducted last May of teachers and staff found that 60 percent of respondents said building administrators address negative student behaviors, and 69 percent said school administrators work to maintain a safe learning environment. Some states are misdemeanors, like in Virginia, and in other states they are felonies. There was no physical struggle or fight, Chief Drew said on Monday, clarifying an earlier account claiming that there had been an altercation. Another study found that 70 percent of 5- to 6-year olds, and 90 percent of 7- to 8-year-olds had enough finger strength to pull the trigger. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. And I told him the only thing we can do in this situation is try. Newport News Superintendent George Parker III came under fire during a school board meeting Tuesday following the shooting of a teacher by a six-year-old student. There was a school shooting in Newport News in the fall of 2021, at Heritage High School. The chief also stated that the shooting was not accidental. I can promise that.. Abigail Zwerner was struck Friday while she was teaching her class, Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew said Monday at a news conference. Some practically screamed their comments at the lectern, and others were in tears. They're actually in there with with counselors and officers. 6-year-old in custody after shooting teacher in Virginia, police chief says. Glenn Youngkin released the statement Friday night: "My administration has offered assistance in response to the shooting at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News and stand at the ready to help in any way we can. Police chief Steve Drew confirmed to us that a 6-year-old first grade student has been identified as the shooting suspect at a 5:30 p.m. press conference. The teacher, a woman in her 30s, suffered "life-threatening" injuries and remains in critical condition, according to police reports. Nationally, the devices are more likely to be used in schools with a high percentage of nonwhite students. Police said during a press conference Friday evening that the shooting was not accidental and that they are working to learn how the student got a firearm and why the shooting occurred. Several speakers said students who act out, disrespect teachers and get into fights suffer no consequences. No students were injured in the shooting. Under Virginia law, its a misdemeanor if an adult leaves a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a way it could endanger a child under the age of 14. The chief said a handgun was used in the altercation and he wanted to know where it came from. A motive remains under investigation. A 6-year-old student was taken into custody after reportedly shooting a teacher during an altercation in a classroom at Richneck Elementary School on Friday. Newport News Superintendent George Parker III came under fire during a school board meeting Tuesday following the shooting of a teacher by a six-year-old student. Dont buy a teeth whitening gel before reading these reviews. Let's do something. You've got a beautiful country. NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) A man has died following a shooting Wednesday night in Newport News. The school has been closed since the shooting, and no timeline was given for reopening. This grace has turned into enabling.. The number one priority for me is to check on our victim at the hospital and get all these students back with their families, Chief Drew said. The boy, who was taken into custody immediately after the shooting, was under a temporary detention order and was being evaluated at a hospital, police said Monday. At a news conference on Monday, the police said the boy had retrieved the handgun legally purchased by his mother from home, put it in his backpack and brought it to school. Whether the boy's parents will be charged will be determined in consultation with the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office, Drew said. Anyone can read what you share. Only then did Ms. Zwerner, 25, stagger into the hallway and toward the office to find help. "This was not a situation where we had a student, or any other individuals, going up and down the halls actively firing in a long shooting incident," Drew said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. It also reveals a lack of public education on the responsibility of gun owners to store their guns unloaded, locked and away from ammunition, the experts said. When a 6-year-old boy shot and killed a classmate in Michigan in 2000, Genesee County Prosecuting Attorney Arthur Busch didnt go after the boy, but after those who provided access Eliza Fawcett and Tim Arango contributed reporting. Shes terrified because the person who was advocating for her got hurt. Drew called the investigation "unprecedented" Monday. Our team of experts has selected the best teeth whitening gel out of hundreds of options. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. No students were injured in this incident, which occurred around 2 p.m., police said, but tactical teams were sent into the building. Saturday afternoon, James Madison University confirmed that the teacher involved in the shooting was alumna Abby Zwerner. Secure storage laws typically have criteria to designate how the gun must be stored loaded, unloaded, or separated from ammunition. Students and police gather outside of Richneck Elementary School after a shooting, Friday, January 6, 2023 in Newport News, Virginia. The crowd of at least a couple hundred people overflowed into three additional rooms for a session that stretched past three hours. Do you have access to a safe storage mechanism? he said, adding, Its more preventative., The shooting at Richneck Elementary happened shortly before 2 p.m. on Friday, and unfolded quickly, with officers and medics responding in a matter of minutes, according to the police. appreciated. There were 16 to 20 students in the classroom when the gun was fired, Drew said. Child access prevention laws are more flexible, generally saying gun owners must not knowingly store their guns in a place where a child could gain access to them, according to Crifasi. The 6-year-old student was not publicly identified because of his age. The school system sent information to Richneck families in a phone call and email, and posted it to social media about an hour after the incident. Still, every year, hundreds of children in the US gain access to firearms and unintentionally shoot themselves or someone else, according to research by Everytown for Gun Safety, a leading non-profit organization focusing on gun violence prevention. Several experts pointed to counseling and mental health support as a better investment for schools, and said officials must also look outside of schools to prevent violence. States holding gun owners criminally liable for any violation are associated with decreased rates of firearm deaths in children under the age of 14, said Lee, who is one of the authors of the 2019 study. Messages of support for Ms. Zwerner were placed on the schools front door on Monday. "She made sure that every one of those students was safe.". We demand that our kids and teachers come home safe every day.. Parents, teachers blast Newport News school board, administration after shooting. NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - A 6-year-old male student is in custody and a female teacher is in the hospital with life-threatening injuries Friday afternoon following a shooting in the classroom at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, officials confirm. "Today our students got a lesson in gun violence," Parker said. Before Fridays incident, shootings at two other schools in the Newport News Public Schools system had shaken the community. No one else was involved in the incident, he said. But now, he said, some steps taken at high schools, like metal detectors, may need to be explored. More states are considering some form of secure storage legislation, and most recently, Illinois passed a law last year, requiring the Department of Public Health to develop and implement a safe gun storage public awareness campaign. In that case, the student killed Kayla Rolland as a teacher was lining up children in a hallway for a trip to the library. The penalties are different, the restrictiveness level is different, and that, at least in our study, appears to make a difference when looking at firearm deaths in children, Lee said. This is a tragic situation, because its extraordinarily preventable, Riedman said. The boy was taken into custody, the chief said. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. A 6-year-old is accused of shooting someone at school. Chief Drew confirmed there was one location where a gunshot was fired, and evidence was recovered from that location. But he tells me, Dad, Im not sure if Im ready to go back to that school, he said. I was freaking out. The bullet struck her hand and chest, and she was rushed to the hospital, while the boy was taken into custody. The school was on lockdown for about an hour before it was lifted, according to NNPS. The police departments response was almost immediate, very, very quick, within minutes, said Drew. Much is still unknown about the timeline of events on Jan. 6, and what exactly happened between the boys arrival at school and the shooting around 2 p.m. When officers arrived on the scene, they found a man with multiple gunshot wounds. The Newport News school board is set to address the incident at Richneck Elementary School in which a 6-year-old allegedly shot a teacher. It listed a security officer on its website. 2023 Cable News Network. I would like to see that consequences find their way back to Newport News schools, said Djifa Lee, a second-grade teacher in the district. Statistics in the U.K. for crime is zero for guns, why is it so bad? Its just tragic were having to deal with this all over again, Mr. Eley said. There were counselors at the school talking with the students. According to dispatch, the call for the shooting came in around 8:34 p.m. at the EnerDels lithium-ion battery solutions offer notable benefits over traditional battery solutions, including light weight, longer cycle life, reduced maintenance and service and often less space allowing for new product design options. The bullet went through Zwerner's hand and into her upper chest, "but she was still able to get all of her students out of that classroom," he said. But the tip was not relayed to the Newport News Police Department before the shooting, the police said in a statement on Friday. As long as you dont knowingly think a child could access that gun, then youre not necessarily violating the law., Biden will sign first major federal gun safety legislation in decades on Saturday, White House says. A single bullet pierced Ms. Zwerner, 25, who was seriously injured but has been recovering at a hospital. The boy struck the employee but did not fire another shot, the police said. NNPD also reports her condition has improved; Chief Drew met with the victim and her family Saturday morning. Chief Drew confirmed a 6-year-old boy is in custody. So many people wanted to speak publicly that after repeatedly extending the 30-minute public comment period, the school board postponed its other business entirely and devoted the evening to comments. Police are seeking answers as they investigate the events leading up to the January 6 shooting at Richneck Elementary school, wounding a 25-year-old elementary school teacher identified by officials as Abigail Zwerner. Because of the ongoing nature of the investigation, we will not be releasing any further information at this time.. The authorities offered on Monday the first account of how the child obtained the gun, saying that the weapon, a 9-millimeter Taurus handgun, came from his home and that it had been legally purchased by his mother. Did you encounter any technical issues? Police have interviewed the 6-year-old and his mother in the wake of Friday's shooting and determined the gun was legally purchased by the boy's mother, Newport News Police Chief In response, the chairman of the school board, Lisa R. Surles-Law, stepped down from the dais and stood beside her as she recounted how frightening the shooting was for her daughter, who the parent said had been bullied by students in the class. "There was no physical struggle or fight. Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. The gun, which still held bullets, was on the floor when the police arrived. It was intentional., Chief Drew said another school employee came into the classroom at the sound of the gunshot and restrained that young man that child, I should say.. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Virginia law prohibits leaving a loaded gun where it is accessible to children under 14, a crime that is punishable as a misdemeanor. Mark Anthony Garcia Sr., 38, the father of a second grader at Richneck Elementary, said that his heart fell during the virtual meeting on Thursday night when the superintendent said the school had been aware of a possible weapon in the building. The news that an employee had searched the backpack raised questions about the adequacy of the schools response, in a case that has already drawn significant attention because of the childs young age, which has brought a new level of concern to the charged debate over guns and school safety. Police said her 6-year-old student fired a single round as Zwerner was in the middle of a lesson. Messages of support for teacher Abby Zwerner, who was shot by a 6 year old student, grace the front door of Richneck Elementary School Newport News, Va. on Monday Jan. 9, 2023. 2. She turned around to make sure that every one of those students was safe, said Steve Drew, the chief of police in Newport News, Va., who described Ms. Zwerners actions as heroic and said she was in stable condition. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much But more fundamentally, a series of speakers said metal detectors are not enough to address the districts underlying problems. Police respond to a shooting at Richneck Elementary School, Friday, Jan. 6, 2023 in Newport News, Va. NEWPORT NEWS, VA - JANUARY 07: Police tape hangs from a sign post outside Richneck Elementary School following a shooting on January 7, 2023 in Newport News, Virginia. The boy brought the gun from home, the authorities said, before aiming it at his teacher. These are the gun control laws passed in 2022. Weve addressed metal detection, random searching and all kinds of other things at the secondary level, said George Parker III, the superintendent of Newport News Public Schools. They dismissed students by grade level, Chief Drew said. We dont have any robustly funded public education campaigns so that the general public understands the risks of children being around unsecured firearms, and that is because of the politics around firearms, said Annie Andrews, a professor of pediatrics at the Medical University of South Carolina and an expert on gun violence prevention. Police tape hangs from a sign post outside Richneck Elementary School following a shooting on January 7, 2023 in Newport News, Virginia. The investigation continues, he said. JMU President Jonathan R. Alger said in a statement that the campus, nearly 200 miles northwest of Newport News, was deeply saddened by the reported tragic shooting of JMU alumna Abby NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) A man has died following a shooting Wednesday night in Newport News. When the shot was fired, Ms. Zwerner threw up her hand, but the bullet passed through it and struck her chest. A 6-year-old student shot a teacher during an altercation at a Virginia elementary school on Friday, police said. In September 2021, two 17-year-olds were injured in a shooting at Heritage High School; two months later, a 17-year-old was killed outside Menchville High School. You have to make the attempt to let them fix the problem.. pic.twitter.com/yDsDUOlUTj, Upon hearing the news, Sen. Mark Warner tweeted, Deeply disturbed by this report and closely monitoring the situation. Wizards, Warriors trade blows early then champs leave hosts on canvas, For Victor Robles and the Nats, a thorny offseason storyline returns, Capitals rally from three-goal deficit, clip Islanders in OT. "This is terrible," he added. Dan Semenza, the director of interpersonal violence research at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center at Rutgers University, said that the safest way to prevent children from using guns is to not have a firearm in the home of a child.. 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