VA Principal Didn't Know 6-Year-Old Had Gun, Lawyer Says: Report

NEWPORT NEWS, VA — The former principal of the school where police said a 6-year-old shot his teacher last month says she didn't know the boy had a gun on him that day, despite reports by teachers claiming they warned administrators three times.

An attorney for Briana Foster-Newton, who was removed from her position at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News following the shooting of 25-year-old Abigail Zwerner, said during a news conference Thursday that Foster-Newton was not among the administrators who were aware the boy might have had a gun, according to The Associated Press.

"It continues to be reported that unidentified school administrators were aware that the 6-year-old student had a gun at school on Jan. 6 and simply failed to act," attorney Pamela Branch said during a news conference in Richmond, Virginia.

"Mrs. Newton has been assumed to have been one of those administrators," Branch added. "However, this is far from the truth. The fact of the matter is that those who were aware that the student may have had a gun on the premises that day did not report this to Mrs. Newton at all."

Newport News police have accused the boy of shooting Zwerner inside a first-grade classroom on Jan. 6. Police said the boy took his mother's 9mm handgun to school, pulled it from his backpack, and used it to shoot Zwerner.

Police Chief Steve Drew has repeatedly characterized the shooting as "intentional," saying the boy aimed at Zwerner and fired one round, striking her in the hand and chest.

Zwerner was hospitalized for nearly two weeks but is now recovering at home, a hospital spokesperson said.

Last week, the Newport News school board voted to fire Superintendent George Parker III after he faced a barrage of criticism following the shooting. Hours before the board's vote, Zwerner announced she planned to sue the school district.

Zwerner's lawyer, Diane Toscano, said that on the day of the shooting, concerned teachers and employees warned administrators three times the boy had a gun on him and was threatening other students, but "the administration could not be bothered."

Parker told parents after the incident that a school official was notified about the weapon before the shooting. However, no gun was found when the child's backpack was searched.

School administrators have also been accused of downplaying the boy's behavior and repeatedly ignoring Zwerner's requests for help, according to a Washington Post report. Teachers told the Post that Zwerner alerted school officials about the boy's behavior and repeatedly sought assistance during the school year.

In a statement released by their attorney, the boy's family said their son suffers from an acute disability and was under a care plan at the school, including his mother or father attending school with him and accompanying him to class every day.

According to the family, the week of the shooting was the first that a parent was not in class with him.

"We will regret our absence on this day for the rest of our lives," the family said.

Newton is no longer listed as the principal on the school's website. Michelle Price, a spokesperson for the school district, said last month that the district still employs Newton, but she did not say what position Newton now holds.

Assistant Principal Ebony Parker has resigned from the school division, Price said.

Karen Lynch, who has worked as a principal in Newport News for 17 years, is now listed as the school's administrator. In a letter to Richneck families this week, Lynch said she was working "on special assignment" at Richneck.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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