Abigail Zwerner JMU Delta Gamma Alumna
 

Madness abounds.. You can google Ms. Zwerner's name for a plethora of news.

Ms. Zwerner, a JMU graduate, has been released from the hospital. More than thoughts and prayers are needed, IMO. Way, way more.

She truly is to be commended…even after she was shot, she made sure every child in her class was safely out of the room.

There’s an ugly lawsuit brewing and there should be. School personnel either ignored or missed SEVERAL opportunities to discover and take that weapon—I hope she’s able to heal in every way.

I just read that she is a Delta Gamma alumna. As a former elementary school teacher and now substitute, I cannot imagine the shock and terror that she faced that day. She is to be commended for ensuring that her students had safely evacuated the room despite her injuries.

Abby has now given an interview to the Today show in which she gives details of that day and her recovery.



https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...dent-rcna75336

She has filed a $40M lawsuit against the Newport News schools.
https://t.co/kwPK8p2eIm
(You’ll need Apple News to read it.)

Here's an article on NPR about it too.
I know it doesn't take the trauma away, but I hope she gets every penny. Every detail I read horrifies me - that administration was told at least 3 times and did nothing but dismiss staff concerns is awful.

I too hope that Abby receives every single cent that she's asking for in her suit. I'm also hoping that the two administrators have their credentials pulled as well.

The administration was well aware that this was a first grade student with a history of violent outbursts towards faculty and peers but chose to not search his clothing. He had been previously transferred to another site for his kindergarten year. He had already had been placed on a modified day schedule which required a parent to be present on campus with him. I'm very concerned that he was permitted to be there without a parent on that day. The parents had declined placement in a special education (SPED) class and insisted on his being placed in a general education class. The SPED class would likely have fewer students as well as aides to assist.



Based upon what I have been reading for years now (prior to the pandemic), too many students, teachers, aides and other school staff members are facing increasing levels of violence from students in elementary school. As a former elementary teacher and now substitute, I am increasingly reluctant to recommend teaching as a career due to my concerns for their personal safety.

My husband used to teach psychologically disturbed high school students. What he dealt with was horrific but almost none of the teachers would agree to teach the 3-5 year olds. They were far worse than the high schoolers and that is terrifying to me.

The mother of the six year old shooter has been indicted by the grand jury on felony charges of neglect. This is a sensible action and I am glad that the parent is facing consequences.



https://www.13newsnow.com/article/ne...8-b5f036e8c3eb

https://abcnews.go.com/US/virginia-m...ry?id=98479923

“There were failures in accountability at multiple levels that led to Abby being shot and almost killed," said Zwerner's attorney, Diane Toscano.

This pretty much sums up everything about this case, and so many other areas in society today. God forbid if anyone actually has to be accountable for their actions or decisions.

I hope this lady gets every last cent from the school district that enabled this psychotic child's attendance and behavior, and I hope she goes after the parent(s) in civil court too.

Update: Ms. Zwerner has resigned her teaching position. I am disgusted by the school board’s “response”.

https://apnews.com/article/abby-zwer...1bd01083c16ec8

Thanks for sharing that, and the way she has been treated all around is awful!

This is just my own opinion, I feel like that entire school board needs to resign. I also say this from a place of my friend's so was killed in the parking lot of a high school in that same district following a high school basketball game. I feel like they need a whole new board and really look closely of finding ways to try and prevent things like this from happening for all of their students.

My heart goes out for Abby, I just can't imagine beyond the physical trauma but the emotional trauma as well.

Here's the latest information on this case.


https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...-gun-rcna98995

I logged in to post the latest updates, and see that you’ve done so, thanks. If it’s true what the six year old is alleged to have said, this is so far beyond anything that can be excused or blamed or whatever spin someone might try to put on his actions. And his family as well. Yes those are poorly worded sentences. I’m seeing red and that’s my excuse. No time to rewrite or edit.

This is not going to end well. All the money in the world can’t restore Ms. Zwerner to who she was prior to the shooting. And I don’t have the professional training to address the multiple issues in the shooter and his family.

You're welcome.
I cannot imagine what it was like for his prior teacher(s) and the instructional aides who had to deal with his explosive behaviors. He's too young to have understood his actions, but he is also a threat to his peers. His actions towards them and other adults is the reason why he was a behavior transfer and a parent was required to accompany him to school each day.



You are correct in stating that this will not end well for him, his family and his teacher Ms. Zwerner.

Here's today's news related to this case.


https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...deal-rcna99973

https://www.wtkr.com/news/in-the-com...nnps-heres-why

^^^ well, TLLK, that school board and school district must have very deep pockets indeed. Imagine the machinations that are taking place. Ugh.

This is shaping up to be a $$$ legal battle. I’m frustrated. Those responsible are going to do their best to keep from being held accountable, or at a minimum, shift the blame and responsibility elsewhere IMO. Damn. Ms. Zwerner deserves to be made whole.

Any news on the sentencing (of the child’s parent) that was scheduled for 10/27?

According to NBC news from Washington, her sentencing has been moved to December.


https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/l...r-old/3454981/

^^^thank you Roses78 for posting that link. Article contained more in depth info on Virginia law, etc. and I see the situation in more detail.

You're quite welcome! That whole story is all kinds of twisty. I hope Ms. Zwerner comes out of it as well as she possibly can.

As a former elementary school teacher, now substitute teacher I am so disappointed in the attitude from the district. That they're even considering this to be a workman's compensation case rather than the result of the inaction and absence of accountability from the school's administration. Ms Zwerner and other teachers/staff repeated warned the administration that the student reportedly had a gun in his backpack. No student, teacher or staff member should ever expect to be shot, stabbed or physically assaulted in a school setting. However it happens nearly every day across this nation as teachers, staff and other classmates are hit, kicked at and assaulted by students who might be in the "least restrictive" but definitely not "appropriate" setting!

One more update, for those following the story:

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...les-rcna123599

^^^Thank you Roses 78. I am so pleased that the judge has ruled in her favor and that she can proceed with her lawsuit.

Me too! And you're welcome. I'll keep an eye on this one in case something else happens.

Another update --

Mom's sentenced reference drug use and guns -- these are federal charges with the state charges still pending.


https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news...ederal-prison/

Thank you for sharing this news update. I am so pleased to see that the judge believed that this case "cried out for incarceration." Based on this article, I am of the opinion that Ms. Taylor should not have custody of her son as she has repeatedly made choices that are criminal in nature ie: shooting at her son's father while he was driving. She claimed that she was aiming for his female passenger. (Taylor used another descriptive noun for a woman.)

Ms. Taylor receives her sentence today.


https://www.pilotonline.com/2023/12/...ution-request/

Just popped up on my news feed, TLLK. Thanks to you and Roses78 for keeping us informed. Two years for state, 21 months for federal. I don’t know. How is it possible to make Ms. Zwerner whole? And the other children in the class who were there that day as well as having to have spent time with that student up until the shooting? What about them? Lot of victims here.

Sometimes I just want to crawl into bed, pull the covers up over my head, and not deal. Then I think about Sandy Hook, and this case, and countless other cases here in the USA where guns are valued above human life. It’s a luxury to want to hide, and I can’t afford the price. Onward. Not finished fighting. Not yet.

Another link with the same basic info, but adds that she cannot have any contact with her son until he's 18:

https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news...child-neglect/

Sounds as if the kid's doing well in his current situation. I hope that's true, and that it holds.

I didn't get a chance to check back on the sentence so thanks to those of you who posted. I am personally glad she got a longer state sentence, there were so many things that feel through the cracks that lead up to this tragic event that as others have said not only impacted Ms. Zwerner but also the other students who witnessed what happened. I haven't seen any details as to what happened to the young boy who did the shooting but hopefully he is getting additional help to deal with whatever issues he is dealing with. It looks like from reading the wavy article she'll serve her federal time and then her state time afterwards?

Yes, that is what it sounds like. She was convicted of both state and federal crimes. The article doesn't mention that the judge in the Virginia court is allowing the state sentence to run concurrently; so, it sounds like she has to serve time in both jurisdictions.

I'm not sure if the state of Virginia is lenient with "good conduct" credit and will allow this mother an early release; however, the Feds are not. Federal inmates usually serve the bulk of their sentences. So she will likely serve the entire 21 months of her Federal term and then be transferred to Virginia state custody for the additional 2 years of state time.

Update on the Richneck School Assistant Principal


https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news...d-april-9-2024




https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/09/u...-shooting.html

A little more info--

https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news...y-child-abuse/

The link looks wonky for me but you should be able to get there.

Off topic, but those worthless, idiot parents of the Michigan school shooter were sentenced to 10-15 years yesterday. It's nice to see some accountability.

Ditto!

Lake, I personally don't think you're off-topic. I think there's an undercurrent here that connects so many of these shootings, or stabbings, or head-bashings, or whatever mayhem some of our (meaning the children of our communities, not necessarily my kids--or yours :D) children commit on others. I'm no expert, and I surely don't have an answer, except that (IMO only) the fix MUST start at the lowest possible level. Not the state, not the schools, not peers or "influencers". It has to start in the family, in the earliest days of a child's life, and grow from there; and the effort has to find a rich community environment to nurture it. Sadly, many of the young parents I'm acquainted with don't know how to model the necessary parenting skills, because they've never been modeled FOR them. They may see and understand the need, but they don't know how to make it happen.

Equally sadly, I'll bet that the Crumbleys serve maybe 3-5 years, if that. More for him since he couldn't keep his mouth shut. He probably won't be able to behave himself in prison, either.

One last link re Ms. Zwerner's ordeal: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...ack-rcna147247

/rant over

BINGO!

Things plod along: https://www.wric.com/news/virginia-n...ant-principal/