NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The civil lawsuit of Abigail Zwerner, the former Richneck Elementary School first grade teacher shot by her 6-year-old student on Jan. 6, 2023, began Monday with jury selection.
WTKR News 3 Newport News reporter Kelsey Jones, who was on the scene at Richneck on that fateful day, will be covering the trial this week.
Monday was spent weeding out jurors who may have a bias that could influence their judgment in the case. Some of the questions attorneys asked prospective jurors included, "does anyone feel that because Abby was injured, she deserves some form of compensation?" and "do you feel like the evidence you hear in this case, could you separate what you heard from the press?"
After both legal teams spoke with 48 potential jurors, three men and six women — seven jurors and two alternates — were selected. Opening statements will be delivered Tuesday.
Zwerner is seeking $40 million in damages for the shooting that pierced her hand and went into her chest. The lawsuit claims negligence in preventing the incident, alleging that school leaders — in particular, former Assistant Principal Ebony Parker — ignored multiple warnings that the child had a gun and intended to use it. The suit initially named three defendants who held leadership positions within the Newport News school district at the time of the shooting. This summer, a judge tossed the claims against two defendants, but ruled the allegations against Parker are sufficient to proceed to trial.
The civil suit isn't the only legal matter connected to the shooting: Parker is also facing criminal charges of felony child abuse — eight counts, one for every bullet that was in the gun the child used. That case is set to go forward in November.
Back in 2023, Deja Taylor, the mother of the student who shot Zwerner, pleaded guilty to federal firearm-related charges and a state charge of felony child neglect. She was sentenced to about four years total and remains in prison.
Any verdict against Parker in the civil case is expected to be paid by the Virginia Risk Sharing Association.
The trial is expected to last no more than eight days. Circuit Court Judge Mathew Hoffman is presiding over the case.
