Ebony Parker, the former assistant principal of Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, where a 6-year-old shot his teacher in January 2023, has been indicted for child abuse. She faces eight counts of felony child abuse with disregard for life. Parker is accused of disregarding warnings from teachers about the child possibly carrying a gun and failing to check the boy for a weapon when prompted by a school counselor. The shooting left first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner with life-threatening injuries. Zwerner is suing Newport News Public Schools for $40 million, alleging negligence that allowed the shooting to occur. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, with questions raised about missing disciplinary records for the child involved. Zwerner’s lawyers have expressed concerns about a potential cover-up related to the missing documents. Parker’s attorney has not yet responded to requests for comment. The child’s mother, Deja Taylor, has been sentenced to federal and state prison for firearm and drug charges and child neglect associated with the shooting. Zwerner continues to suffer from PTSD, anxiety, and depression following the incident.
