Virginia judge drops all 8 criminal charges in school shooting case
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Graphic Content Warning: This article consists of police physique digicam footage from the aftermath of a school shooting.
TO Virginia judge dismissed criminal charges towards Ebony Parker, the previous assistant principal accused of ignoring warnings earlier than a 6-year-old youngster shot a trainer, after the protection argued the prosecution had not made its case.
“If [Parker’s actions] are meant to amount to a crime, the legislature will need to codify it,” Circuit Court Judge Rebecca Robinson stated Thursday. “Therefore, I do grant the defense motion to strike in full on all counts, all eight counts of criminal child abuse and endangerment.”
Parker put his head down on the defendant’s desk and gave the impression to be sobbing.
Former Richneck Elementary School assistant principal Ebony Parker appears again in the courtroom throughout Abby Zwerner’s lawsuit in Newport News, Va., on Oct. 28, 2025. (Stephen M. Katz/The Virginian-Pilot through AP, Pool)
Parker was charged with eight counts of criminal youngster neglect in the January 2023 shooting at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News.
The charges alleged Parker “did commit a willful act or omission in the care of such students, in a manner so gross, wanton and guilty as to show a reckless disregard for human life,” in accordance with court documents.
Prior to the dismissal of all charges, Parker was probably dealing with as much as 5 years in jail on every depend. Thursday’s dismissal ends the criminal proceedings towards Parker in the case.
Abigail Zwerner, the trainer shot by a 6-year-old pupil in January 2023, was the primary witness Tuesday, May 19 in the trial of Ebony Parker in Newport News, Virginia. (WAVY)
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First-grade trainer Abigail Zwerner was injured in the shooting.
The trial started with opening statements Tuesday, and the prosecution referred to as 16 witnesses in all. On Tuesday, Zwerner took the stand recounting the second her 6-year-old pupil opened fireplace on her in January 2023.
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“I saw this student looking at me,” she testified. “I looked over, the gun was pointed right at me, and then I was shot.”
The bullet traveled through her left hand and into her chest, she stated.
WATCH: Bodycam video exhibits trainer after she was shot by 6-year-old pupil
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She instructed swearers the scholar had already displayed aggressive habits earlier that week, together with an incident in which he grabbed and smashed her cellphone throughout reading-group time.
Zwerner testified the kid appeared “very defiant” earlier than breaking the cellphone and had what she described as a “challenging face.”
Teacher Abby Zwerner was awarded $10 million in damages associated to the January 2023 shooting at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Va. (Newport News Police Department/Associated Press)
In November 2025, Zwerner was awarded $10 million in a civil trial towards Newport News Public Schools, accusing the school division and directors of gross negligence and alleging they ignored a number of warnings and failed to forestall the shooting.
It additionally claimed the scholar had a documented historical past of regarding and violent habits.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Parker’s lawyer, Curtis Rogers and Breit Biniazan and Prosecutor Josh Jenkins for remark.