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

[fred&edna]

I do not support vigilante justice in any way, shape or form.

just saying

 

[Alethea]

I agree, I don’t think the names need to be released. I do hope and expect that DCF is doing a very deep dive into this kids life because someone in his life is very violent. Kids are not born knowing how to do things like this.

 

[Ontario Mom]

I absolutely agree with you on that point. There certainly exists a mob mentality in these times we live in. However, in saying that...WHY the need for their attorney to come out and publicly fan the flames? LE and investigators may be dragging their feet here, but the family's defense attorney is surely not. MOO

ETA: spelling error

I think we all know these parents are danged if they do, danged if they don't.

Had they chosen not to release any kind of statement, they'd be thrown under the bus for hiding, or whatever accusation folks want to come up with.

Now that they have released a statement well... same. Questioning their motives, questioning their honesty, their background and literally picking apart everything in the statement from gun safety to the kid's disability. I can only imagine what kind of conversations are happening on platforms that are not victim friendly.

I can't answer as to why they released a statement. I can't even imagine what I'd be doing in their shoes. Probably looking for real estate in a remote cave in a remote island no one's ever heard of.

jmo

 

[amaraya]

Virginia boy who shot teacher Abigail Zwerner told another he wanted to set her on fire: report


Not sure if this has been shared...

I believe that there needs to be some serious checks <modsnip - not victim friendly>. As for the administrators who ignored her concerns, i hope they are held responsible for this tragedy as well.

Absolutely disgusted if indeed she (&others) had multiple concerns that were disregarded.

Absolutely shameful.

 

[Simply Southern]

I am very concerned that a 6 year old with alleged "severe disabilities" had the series of connected and complex thoughts to: find a gun in the home, understand what a gun is and how a gun is used, understand what a gun can be used for (hurting people), understand the various parts of a gun and how they are used, allegedly disable any alleged locks and safety precautions, realize that having a gun is wrong and actively hide the gun, bring the gun to school again allegedly secretly, decide to point the gun at the teacher, use two hands (presumably) to hold and fire the gun AT the teacher.

Does this sound like the series of steps an ordinary 6 year old would think to do? How would a 6 year old know how to use a handgun? Even for say a 12 year old you could assume they have likely seen violence through movies and tv but 6?

IMO this kid has seen someone threaten someone else with a gun before. This is not something a 6 year old comes up with on his own. I am going to guess that's why we haven't heard much from LE as they are investigating various circumstances in the child's life.

Totally agree.

Newport News CPO stated, the shooting was intentional.

Moo....

 

[sandy_80]

Wasn't a parent recently arrested for being unable to protect their toddler from waving a gun in their apartment building??

Indiana father accused of neglect after toddler caught on camera waving a gun has not guilty pleas entered in first court appearance | CNN

An Indiana court has entered not guilty pleas for the man who prosecutors say is the father of the child captured on video waving a loaded handgun on the landing at an apartment complex, according to court records.

www.cnn.com

<modsnip - moderation question>

id say these are different to an extent ..the fact that its a baby in diapers ..and his father is a felon
even though no one was hurt..you can say there is zero benefit of the doubt here

 

[Simply Southern]

I for one am thankful the names of the parents have NOT been publicly revealed.

Some lunatic would likely exact some form of vigilante justice, or show up at their home with a mob of angry people making all sorts of noise and commotion the way we've all seen happening more and more these days.

No, the media, LE and the school have made no public naming.

But, I'll bet the bank, the community knows. Maybe not everyone, but concerned parents and teachers. News travels very fast in communities, especially an event of this magnitude.

I feel the local media has been kind to this family. They could be camped on their front door. I, also feel, if the family were being harassed the media would be covering.

All my opinion

 

[Lauri_]

I hate that a 6-year-old is “in custody.” We can debate how old a child is when fully responsible for their own actions. But I wish the caregivers and gun owner were in custody and the child was in a safe place, where he cannot hurt himself or others, getting counseling. Sure hope that’s what they mean by “in custody.” Jmo

I wondered the same thing. A 6 year old is still figuring out consequences of their own actions. I'm really interested in how that 6 year had access to a gun.

 

[Simply Southern]

Virginia boy who shot teacher Abigail Zwerner told another he wanted to set her on fire: report


Not sure if this has been shared...

I believe that there needs to be some serious checks <modsnip - not victim friendly>. As for the administrators who ignored her concerns, i hope they are held responsible for this tragedy as well.

Absolutely disgusted if indeed she (&others) had multiple concerns that were disregarded.

Absolutely shameful.

Many teachers spoke of violent acts, at the Tuesday School Board meeting, that were ignored.

NBC showed clips on Today Show and Evening news. I watched the entire video on the NNPS site, LInk below. I felt sick at times and cried for the parents and teachers.

CloudCast v3

videoplayer.telvue.com

 

[Simply Southern]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/01/21/richneck-elementary-school-shooting-warnings-downplayed/

<modsnip - copying content from paywalled article is not allowed>

 

[fred&edna]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/01/21/richneck-elementary-school-shooting-warnings-downplayed/

<modsnip - copying content from paywalled article is not allowed>

This is far, far beyond unacceptable

 

[YaYa_521]

MOD NOTE:

We have removed numerous posts for various TOS violations. If you haven't done so yet, please take a moment to review THE RULES, particularly Etiquette & Information. Below are a couple of important points to keep in mind while discussing this unfortunate case:

Websleuths is a victim friendly forum. The "victim friendly" rule also extends to the family members of the 6-year-old suspect.

Attacking or bashing a victim is not allowed. Discussing victim behavior, good or bad is fine, but do so in a civil and constructive way, and only when such behavior is relevant to the case. That does not mean, however, that statements made by family members and other third parties cannot come into discussion as the facts of the case are reported in the media. Just don't make random accusations, suggest their involvement, nor bash and attack them.

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DO NOT INTRODUCE GUN CONTROL/GUN CULTURE/POLITICAL COMMENTARY INTO THIS CASE DISCUSSION.

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Thank you for contributing to this discussion and doing so in accordance with Websleuths' Rules and TOS.

 

[fred&edna]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/01/21/richneck-elementary-school-shooting-warnings-downplayed/

<modsnip - copying content from paywalled article is not allowed>

I wonder if the parents (and the child) were aware of these warnings?? I wonder if a reporter will ask the parents' attorney about this?

ETA: Next we will hear/read a statement from attorney for the school administrators. jmo

 

[fred&edna]

Is it possible there were others around this child who were also afraid of his actions... outside of school?

 

[shotgun09]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/01/21/richneck-elementary-school-shooting-warnings-downplayed/

<modsnip - copying content from paywalled article is not allowed>

IF this is indeed the case, and the school Admin ignored and accepted this behavior, allowing the boy to continue in school...I would be outraged as a parent of ANY student in that school.

No wonder school has not resumed!
MOO

 

[Erutan]

Richneck boy, 6, who shot teacher threatened to kill another

The Washington Post cites messages between teachers and staff at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News which detail how faculty complained but were dismissed.

www.dailymail.co.uk

• Other teachers complained to Richneck Elementary that he was violent
• He sent one a note saying he hated her and wanted to watch her 'burn and die'

Boy, 6, who shot teacher at Virginia school 'previously threatened to burn and kill another teacher, barricaded doors and threw furniture - but elementary school dismissed complaints.​

In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, other teachers slammed the school online, saying Zwerner 'asked for help' 'many times' 'all year'.

I'm sorry for the teachers who are literally on the front lines of witnessing children's misbehavior; and from the sound of the article their concerns may have been ignored or even dismissed ?


Also from the link :

School officials had been told that day that he had a gun - but allowed him to attend class after searching his backpack and not finding it.

Not sure how they didn't notice it on his person ?
Imo.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Totally agree.

Newport News CPO stated, the shooting was intentional.

Moo....

How does a 6-year-old child form intent?

 

[Alethea]

How does a 6-year-old child form intent?

I think they meant "intentional" as compared to the gun accidentally going off. I read it to mean he actually picked up the gun and pulled the trigger versus an easily imagined situation where he dropped the gun and it went off.

 

[fred&edna]

How does a 6-year-old child form intent?

My thought was the child told an officer he brought the gun to school to shoot the teacher. (purpose = intent)

 

[shotgun09]

My thought was the child told an officer he brought the gun to school to shoot the teacher. (purpose = intent)

We also have not heard if any words were spoken prior to the shooting between Abby Zwerner and the 6 year old. It seems very possible that from early witness reports ( AZ and other children present ?) there may have been words spoken, therefore intention was clear to LE from the get go. Just a guess, but also very possible.