Judge Dismisses Charges in Case of Teacher Shot by Boy

UPDATE May 21, 2026 1:20 PM CDT

A Virginia judge has dismissed all eight charges of felony child abuse and neglect against a former assistant principal accused of failing to act on warnings that a 6-year-old boy had a gun. NBC News reports that Ebony Parker, who could have faced up to 40 years in prison, broke down in tears after Judge Rebecca Robinson said she was striking all eight counts. "The court is of the legal opinion that this is not a crime," she said, adding that the ruling "is based upon legal principles only." The ruling was issued in response to a motion from defense lawyers who said the prosecution had not made its case, CNN reports. Witnesses at the trial included former Richneck Elementary first-grade teacher Abigail Zwerner, who was hospitalized for almost 2 weeks after the boy shot her in the hand and chest.

May 18, 2026 12:35 PM CDT

More than 3 years after a 6-year-old shot his teacher at a Virginia elementary school, the school's former assistant principal's trial on felony child abuse charges has begun. Ebony Parker faces eight counts of felony child abuse and neglect—one for each bullet in the child's gun, which he took from his mother's purse, per CNN—tied to the January 2023 shooting of first-grade teacher Abigail Zwerner at Richneck Elementary in Newport News. Parker has pleaded not guilty and faces up to 40 years if convicted; the trial, which began Monday in Newport News, is expected to last three days, and Zwerner is scheduled to testify.

Prosecutors say Parker ignored repeated staff and student warnings that the boy had possibly brought a gun to school and failed to safeguard the 15 children in Zwerner's class. Parker's lawyer argues she had no legal duty to protect the teacher. Zwerner, who was shot in the hand and chest, won a $10 million civil verdict last November after a jury found Parker grossly negligent. The AP reports she does not have full use of her left hand and a bullet remains in her chest. NBC News reports a conviction in the criminal case could actually give insurers grounds to challenge paying Zwerner's civil award. The boy's mother, Deja Taylor, is already serving time on state and federal charges related to the gun.