Former Virginia elementary school assistant principal charged after a teacher was shot by 6-year-old student

new York
CNN
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A former Virginia elementary school administrator was indicted last month and charged with eight counts after a 6-year-old student brought a gun to school and shot his teacher last year last.

Ebony Parker, former assistant principal at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, was indicted on child abuse and disregard for life charges by a special grand jury on March 11, according to newly released court records.

Parker was responsible for the care of students at Richneck Elementary School, but committed “a willful act or omission in the care of these students, in a manner so gross, wanton and culpable as to show reckless disregard for human life,” according to court documents obtained. by CNN. Each count in Virginia carries a sentence of up to five years in prison.

Parker and his attorney Curtis Rogers did not respond to CNN’s requests for comment.

Parker resigned about three weeks after teacher Abigail Zwerner was shot and killed by one of her first-grade students, CNN previously reported. Zwerner survived the shooting.

“These charges are very serious and highlight the school district’s failure to act to prevent the tragic shooting of Abby Zwerner,” attorneys Diane Toscano, Kevin Biniazan and Jeffrey Breit said in a statement Tuesday on behalf of the schoolteacher. first year. . “The school board continues to deny its responsibility to Abby, and this indictment is just another brick in the wall of growing failures and gross negligence in their case.”

Zwerner’s attorney says the shooting could have been avoided with proper intervention by the school and its administrators. In a $40 million lawsuit against the school board and administrators filed late last year, Zwerner’s attorney, Diane Toscano, alleges that affected teachers and employees alerted administrators three times on day of the shooting that the student had a gun and was threatening people.

CNN has reached out to Newport News Commonwealth’s Attorney Howard Gwynn’s office for comment.