A Virginia judge has dismissed all charges against Ebony Parker, the former assistant principal of Richneck Elementary School, who was accused of failing to act on warnings that a six-year-old student had brought a gun to school, leading to the wounding of teacher Abby Zwerner in 2023.
Legal Decision
Newport News Circuit Court Judge Rebecca Robinson abruptly threw out the eight-count indictment against Parker on Thursday, just one day after prosecutors rested their case. Judge Robinson ruled that Parker's actions did not constitute a crime under Virginia law.
The decision ended efforts to hold Parker criminally accountable for the January 2023 shooting, in which the first-grade student used a 9mm handgun to shoot Zwerner during a reading class.
Prosecution's Case
Prosecutors had argued that multiple school employees warned Parker that the student might have a gun in his backpack. According to testimony, Parker told staff that the child's mother would arrive soon to pick him up, and no further action was taken.
However, Judge Robinson stated that after reviewing the evidence presented over several days, she found no legal basis for the charges.
Reactions
Outside the courthouse, Parker's mother expressed relief, saying the decision was "by the grace of God." She described her daughter as "a really great educator" and "a great person to advocate for the kids."
Curtis Rogers, Parker's attorney, acknowledged that his client may have "made a mistake" and had a "lapse in judgment," but maintained she did not commit a crime.
Background of the Case
The shooting occurred when the six-year-old student removed a gun from his backpack in the classroom and fired a single bullet at Zwerner, hitting her in the hand and chest. Zwerner underwent five hand surgeries and still has a bullet lodged in her chest.
In November 2023, a jury awarded Zwerner $10 million in damages after finding that Parker ignored warnings about the gun. The student's mother, Deja Taylor, was sentenced to two years in prison for felony child neglect.
During the trial, Parker's attorneys placed blame on Zwerner, claiming she witnessed the child's movements before the shooting and failed to act. Zwerner testified that the student had slammed her phone days earlier and was in a "violent" mood on the day of the shooting.
