NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Dr. Ebony Parker, the former assistant principal at Richneck Elementary School who was found grossly negligent in a lawsuit filed by a teacher shot by a student back in 2023, appeared in court Friday for a motions hearing.
Parker faces eight counts of felony child neglect for her alleged inaction in preventing the first grade student from shooting Abby Zwerner in a classroom.
During Friday’s hearing, the judge denied a motion from the defense aiming to prevent Susan White, a retired school teacher, from testifying. The defense argued that White could not speak to the character of the boy — named "JT" in court — who shot Zwerner. Prosecutors mentioned a previous incident involving White being choked by JT, claiming that Parker was aware of this incident.
The defense submitted a motion to limit electronic media coverage of the case, arguing that the civil trial already faced extensive media attention and that further restrictions were necessary to ensure a fair trial. They also claimed that cameras in the courtroom would place additional pressure on jurors. The defense did not ask for a complete media ban, only for coverage to be limited.
Prosecutors argued that excluding media is unconstitutional and that it wouldn't jeopardize a fair trial.
The judge also denied this motion from the defense but added certain stipulations: only one pool camera will be allowed in the courtroom, the jurors will not be named to the media, and the trial cannot be live streamed, it must air with a 30-minute delay.
Richneck Shooting
TIMELINE: The shooting of Abby Zwerner at Richneck Elementary & the aftermath
No students were reported to have been harmed the day JT pulled out a gun around 2 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2023, and fired a shot that tore through Zwerner's hand and pierced her chest, nearly killing her.
That bullet, medical experts say, will remain in Zwerner's body — inches from her spine and vital organs — until the day she dies because it is too dangerous to remove.
Watch: Abby Zwerner's full testimony in her civil trial against Ebony Parker
The jury in the civil trial, which found Parker to be grossly negligent due to her awareness of the reported gun, assessed Zwerner's damages at $10 million. Zwerner's lawsuit was initially seeking $40 million.
The jury trial for Parker's criminal charges will run from May 18 to 21.
JT's mother, Deja Taylor, is currently serving a four-year sentence after pleading guilty to state and federal charges.
