VA- 6-YEAR-OLD is in custody after shooting teacher

[BetteDavisEyes]

So what do you all think? Why hasn't there been either more transparency from LE on this, or an arrest or charges?

I keep thinking that it's something to do with the age of the perp, and the results of the psychiatric evaluation that he has (hopefully) undergone. I hope LE is interviewing anyone who resides with the youngster, along with previous teachers, and/or other adults who have interacted with the child. I'm sure it's complicated and might take time to put the pieces of the puzzle together so authorities can make sense out of a senseless act. JMO

 

[Ontario Mom]

a 6 year old is not a "toddler"!

I think the OP was referencing another post where a member had a toddler in the family that was violent and manipulative, inferring that some people (even little kids) can be accurately described this way.

Sadly I have to agree.

jmo

 

[Erutan]

Interesting how quickly his father was arrested, the toddler hadn't even shot anyone. Yet, the child who shot the teacher, crickets.

Maybe because when the school is involved, (i.e., not checking the child thoroughly ?), they have a vested interest to protect their reputation ?

 

[fred&edna]

Maybe because when the school is involved, (i.e., not checking the child thoroughly ?), they have a vested interest to protect their reputation ?

'Gotta' make sure everyone is lawyered-up.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

'Gotta' make sure everyone is lawyered-up.

Not to mention union representation where applicable.

 

[fred&edna]

Not to mention union representation where applicable.

Absolutely!

 

[Stunned]

The first administrative change I would suggest is to fire whoever searched the shooter's book bag/backpack with a loaded pistol inside and didn't find it! That level of incompetence is staggering, IMO!

Depends on who was given the task and the urgency in which the task was given. Was the teacher asked over the intercom? “Hey when you get a minute “? I’m not comfortable throwing out blame till we know <modsnip - not victim friendly> who to blame. <modsnip>

 

[Ontario Mom]

The first administrative change I would suggest is to fire whoever searched the shooter's book bag/backpack with a loaded pistol inside and didn't find it! That level of incompetence is staggering, IMO!

We don't know the details yet. In fact, we don't know IF the gun was even in the bag at the time it was searched, or if the boy hid the gun somewhere in the class or in his desk, outside on the playground somewhere, etc.

 

[Simply Southern]

Depends on who was given the task and the urgency in which the task was given. Was the teacher asked over the intercom? “Hey when you get a minute “? I’m not comfortable throwing out blame till we know <modsnip - not victim friendly> who to blame. <modsnip>

Repeatedly stated by school board and Norfolk COP, the book bag was search by an administrative employee, the gun was on the child's body. LE was not called until after shooting.

 

[mickey2942]

'Gotta' make sure everyone is lawyered-up.

Or get the stories straight. That can be complicated sometimes. Even if everyone "thought" they were doing the "right" thing, when things go bad, and there is a review of what everyone did, when, why...it shows a different point of view. So many of these school shootings have really had "after" situational analysis that shows valuable communication breakdowns or system issues.

Valuable information for future training, but people get a bit defensive.

 

[Stunned]

Repeatedly stated by school board and Norfolk COP, the book bag was search by an administrative employee, the gun was on the child's body. LE was not called until after shooting.

Was the threat taken as seriously as it should have been because of the child’s age?I’m just having a little problem believing that the proper procedure was followed. IMO

 

[sallye818]

Repeatedly stated by school board and Norfolk COP, the book bag was search by an administrative employee, the gun was on the child's body. LE was not called until after shooting.

Reminder that this happened in the city of Newport News, not Norfolk.

 

[Simply Southern]

Reminder that this happened in the city of Newport News, not Norfolk.

Thanks,

 

[Ladyotm]

Was the threat taken as seriously as it should have been because of the child’s age?I’m just having a little problem believing that the proper procedure was followed. IMO

I agree. The report that he may have a gun cane before he arrived at school. His entire person, work area, and belongings should have been searched. His parents should have been required to come to the school. Something tells me this kid had an extreme case of behavioral issues. A lot of times, the regular classroom setting is not the place for these children. Meanwhile, the other students are terrorized and experience learning loss...because the teacher is so busy trying to manage this one child's behavior. Progress could be made if students are placed in the correct educational setting. I hope this teacher fully recovers and this child gets the help he needs.

 

[Ontario Mom]

I agree. The report that he may have a gun cane before he arrived at school. His entire person, work area, and belongings should have been searched. His parents should have been required to come to the school. Something tells me this kid had an extreme case of behavioral issues. A lot of times, the regular classroom setting is not the place for these children. Meanwhile, the other students are terrorized and experience learning loss...because the teacher is so busy trying to manage this one child's behavior. Progress could be made if students are placed in the correct educational setting. I hope this teacher fully recovers and this child gets the help he needs.

RBBM

I hadn't seen this before. Do you have a link for this info?
If accurate, the person that reached out to the school about the possibility of the child having a gun, couldn't have been his mom, since she drove him to school, according to all MSM reports.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I'm still trying to figure out why the child was late to school, arriving at 11:30. Why didn't he arrive at school at the regular start time? Does the fact that the child was late for school have something to do with his having the gun in his possession?

 

[Simply Southern]

I agree. The report that he may have a gun cane before he arrived at school. His entire person, work area, and belongings should have been searched. His parents should have been required to come to the school. Something tells me this kid had an extreme case of behavioral issues. A lot of times, the regular classroom setting is not the place for these children. Meanwhile, the other students are terrorized and experience learning loss...because the teacher is so busy trying to manage this one child's behavior. Progress could be made if students are placed in the correct educational setting. I hope this teacher fully recovers and this child gets the help he needs.

Not seen this information. Would you share a link to the source?

I don't think this 6 yo would have been allow in school with a gun cane, if so, would be devastating. moo

 

[Simply Southern]

Boy assaulted 2 staff members on day he shot Richneck Elem. teacher: Police

The playground and the parking lot of Richneck Elementary School remain closed this week as police investigate after a six-year-old student shot his teacher in a classroom earlier this month.

www.wtkr.com

Chief Drew tells News 3 the six-year-old assaulted two staff members on Jan. 6.
.....
"There was a faculty member there who was physically restraining him. As we walked in the child struck her at that point, and we decided to take him into custody," Drew said. "Remembering that he is a six-year-old child, we escorted him out of the building and into a police vehicle where we stayed with him until we transported downtown."

.....
"If there's any human services or child protective services case files or any interactions with the family, the same things with schools, we've asked for records to see if there are any behavioral issues," he said.

....
"That will all be written up as a package and presented to the Commonwealth's Attorney," he said. "We will look at the facts, the statements, what we have and then a determination will be made if there's any possible charges going forward.

 

[Simply Southern]

Richneck mother calls for change amid shooting investigation

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) – A Richneck Elementary School mother and alumna is calling for change in the division beyond the security measures outlined by the superintendent this week. Last Fri…

www.wavy.com

A Richneck Elementary School mother and alumna is calling for change in the division beyond the security measures outlined by the superintendent this week.

....
Kasey Sypolt said that the plan to deploy metal detectors in schools is a start, but won’t quell the overwhelming calls for increased safety measures.
...
“He should not have been in the classroom. After he was searched, the parents should have been notified to pick him up immediately, whether they found something or not,” she said.

She said the day of the shooting was one of the most terrifying of her life. Her son sent her a text saying “Mom there is a lock down I’m scared,” followed by “It’s real,” and “Are you coming”?

....

An educator in another school division, Sypolt said the mistakes never would have occurred in her workplace. She said NNPS administrators must listen to teachers who voice safety concerns in classrooms.

 

[Ontario Mom]

Not seen this information. Would you share a link to the source?

I don't think this 6 yo would have been allow in school with a gun cane, if so, would be devastating. moo

I believe the OP made a typo and didn't mean an actual gun cane, but that the report that he may have a gun, came before the child arrived at the school.