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

[fred&edna]

Moo...I would think, it important to let the public know if the lock was found. Finding the lock would look favorable to the family, my opinion.
Per article I posted ...

ATF, police search homes of 6-year-old’s family in Virginia school shooting investigation

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — A federal agency and the Newport News Police this week searched two homes belonging to the family of the 6-year-old boy accused of shooting his first-grade

www.hastingstribune.com

Ellenson said the mother consented to the ATF downloading the entire contents of her cellphone. But he declined to say if investigators found the trigger lock the mother said she had on her handgun — and he would not say what agents seized, “if anything.”

Regarding the question of whether or not investigators located the trigger lock, this time Ellenson didn't say "I don't know" (as he did when answering a previous question of how the child accessed the gun). He actually avoided the question. Avoidance doesn't seem to be favorable in preventing possible charges against his client.

So, I agree with you SS

 

[Simply Southern]

Where I live guns are required to be locked away, maybe laws vary in other areas. Because kids can climb. We had a case where a gun was stored on a high shelf but a 4 year old climbed on something and reached it. Parent was arrested because the gun wasn’t locked up.

MOO and I understand that laws may vary in other areas.

The gun had a trigger lock

 

[Simply Southern]

The student was in the the office, when police arrived. He won't be returning, wants security guards, metal detectors and cameras.

‘I am mad’: 3rd grader wants more security after Va. school shooting

Weeks after the shooting, students and parents are set to return to the school for an open house.

www.nbc12.com

“It was because I am mad – mad that we can’t go to the park, mad we can’t go shopping, mad that we can’t go to the amusement park, mad that we can’t go to school, mad because this is the third school shooting, mad because my mom complained about the buzzer being broke at my school, and nobody did anything about it until now,” he said.

 

[IceIce9]

The gun had a trigger lock

I guess I am not familiar with trigger locks, but don’t you need a key to unlock them?

So a child would need to first locate a hidden key to open the lock?

 

[Hexe]

The gun had a trigger lock

If it had a trigger lock, the boy managed to open it. That brings the questions about the quality of the lock and about accessibility of the key.

And there is still the hovering question if the gun was loaded and with the safety off. If it was properly unloaded and had the safety on, well, someone taught that kid how to operate it...

 

[fred&edna]

If it had a trigger lock, the boy managed to open it. That brings the questions about the quality of the lock and about accessibility of the key.

And there is still the hovering question if the gun was loaded and with the safety off. If it was properly unloaded and had the safety on, well, someone taught that kid how to operate it...

Yep.

It's been a number of years since my children attended public school but I don't believe "gunner's ed" is part of the curriculum, yet.

 

[iamshadow21]

The student was in the the office, when police arrived. He won't be returning, wants security guards, metal detectors and cameras.

‘I am mad’: 3rd grader wants more security after Va. school shooting

Weeks after the shooting, students and parents are set to return to the school for an open house.

www.nbc12.com

“It was because I am mad – mad that we can’t go to the park, mad we can’t go shopping, mad that we can’t go to the amusement park, mad that we can’t go to school, mad because this is the third school shooting, mad because my mom complained about the buzzer being broke at my school, and nobody did anything about it until now,” he said.

Out of the mouths of babes. You tell 'em, kid.

 

[CuriousCaliGirl]

I heard the child's backpack was searched following a tip that he had a gun.
If nothing was found, was it an inadequate search or did the child hide it and later went back to retrieve and use it?
If so, pretty devious for a 6-year old!

 

[fred&edna]

I heard the child's backpack was searched following a tip that he had a gun.
If nothing was found, was it an inadequate search or did the child hide it and later went back to retrieve and use it?
If so, pretty devious for a 6-year old!

I have no idea of this child's size nor do I know how much the 9mm weighed but it's interesting trying to figure out how he was able to keep the gun hidden on his body. And, also amazing the loaded gun didn't fire while if/when he moved his body before shooting his teacher.



"A school employee was notified that the boy potentially had brought a weapon to school and his book bag was searched, but no gun was found. Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew said the boy had removed it from his bag at some point and had it “on his person.”"

ATF, police search homes of 6-year-old’s family in Virginia school shooting investigation

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — A federal agency and the Newport News Police this week searched two homes belonging to the family of the 6-year-old boy accused of shooting his first-grade

www.hastingstribune.com

 

[Erutan]

Virginia mom details moments that reportedly led up to 6-year-old shooting teacher

Abby Zwerner, the 25-year-old teacher who was shot by a 6-year-old student on Friday, is described by fellow teachers, city officials as a hard-working educator devoted to her students.

www.yahoo.com

Snipped

.... parent Brittany Gregory told the Washington Post that first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner had just finished reading a story and was about to start an art lesson when the child pulled out the handgun.

"She was going to confiscate it, and that's when he shot," Gregory said.

Another parent told a local media outlet that he had previously spoken with school staff members about safety concerns prior to the shooting.

bbm
Hmmm.... So, there should be a record of any and all complaints by parents or teachers ?
Imo and unless something more is revealed, I think the complaints might not have been taken seriously ?
Just senseless and again my .02 is that the shooting of AZ was preventable.

I am curious if the incidents involving the boy throwing furniture and threatening to kill a different teacher (by burning) happened while his parents/grandparents were present at the school? Or did those incidents happen once the parents were no longer escorting him?

Just thinking out loud here, maybe he was acting out more when his family was present?

This may have been mentioned before, though I don’t remember reading it, Are 6 year olds ever suspended? Of course vision is always 100% in retrospect, but wondering why they didn’t suspend him and insist his family seek counseling or therapy for him? And make that a requirement for his return to school?

So sad.

bolding mine.
Valid questions.

Esp. the bolded.
No teacher or student should be in daily fear of another person, even if the one they fear is a young student !
M00.

 

[Erutan]

I have no idea of this child's size nor do I know how much the 9mm weighed but it's interesting trying to figure out how he was able to keep the gun hidden on his body. And, also amazing the loaded gun didn't fire while if/when he moved his body before shooting his teacher.



"A school employee was notified that the boy potentially had brought a weapon to school and his book bag was searched, but no gun was found. Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew said the boy had removed it from his bag at some point and had it “on his person.”"

ATF, police search homes of 6-year-old’s family in Virginia school shooting investigation

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — A federal agency and the Newport News Police this week searched two homes belonging to the family of the 6-year-old boy accused of shooting his first-grade

www.hastingstribune.com

bbm
Oh my goodness.

A six year old with a gun on his person should have been easy to spot ?
He might have accidentally shot himself !!!!
SMH.

Also have been wondering for the entireity of this case : WHO notified the school that this child had a gun ?
I think that's relevant.

M00.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

bbm
Oh my goodness.

A six year old with a gun on his person should have been easy to spot ?
He might have accidentally shot himself !!!!
SMH.

Also have been wondering for the entireity of this case : WHO notified the school that this child had a gun ?
I think that's relevant.

M00.

I'd like the answer to this question, as well. Also, why was the child late to school that day? Presumably, the school day starts between 8:00 and 9:00AM. Why was this youngster arriving at 11:30? Does the late arrival have something to do with the child's access to the gun? Another question: Why weren't the parents going to accompany the child on that day?

 

[Stunned]

I see no way to contain the identity of the family or child, sadly.

News travels by word of mouth quickly. Parents will demand answers or search till they do. The school failed in the search for the gun. The school failed to contact LE. I would have concerns about other siblings in school and if they have access to guns.

The system failed. Parents and kids are scared, yes they want answers. I would have ZERO trust in the system after this.

All my opinion

The SYSTEM failed, apsolutely! Praying the school PARENTS don’t! Please keep this child’s identity a secret to protect him and hopefully his treatment plan going forward!
Prayers for everyone involved.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

My opinion wouldn't change if LE found a trigger lock, because there's no way to know it was actually being used that day nor to know where the key for it had been located.

 

[mickey2942]

I can answer several questions here, take it FWIW, as I am not "verified" anything.

1. No public school can require parents to attend school with a child. Even a child with a disability. If the child has a behavior problem, there are specific plans with documentation for each step.

At age 6, he either had an IEP or still covered by IFSP, as he was still 6 years old. IFSP is for children with disabilities from age 3 to 6. Switches to IEP usually at first grade, age 7. Generally, it starts with "speech therapy", unless he has another specific disability, but a behavior disorder is not usually identified until age 8 or 9, due to the data and documentation needed to qualify a child with an emotional/behavior eligibility. Up to that point, a lot of things are fluid, giving kids chances to adjust to school, specific support is given to kids in kindergarten, first grade, who are lagging. If they don't catch up to grade level by 2nd grade, that is usually when testing comes into play for identification for an IEP.

I don't usually see IEP's for kids, at that age, unless it is based on medical diagnosis, like Autism, hearing impairment, something specific, and it starts with a 504 plan, unless there are specific educational interventions needed, like pre Braille.

A mental health diagnosis, like attachment disorder, PTSD, does not automatically qualify a child for an IEP or 504, because the standard is based on how the disability affects educational progress, and a mental health diagnosis is not automatic eligibility for a disability under 91-142. It has to be qualified under "Behavior Disorder", which takes data and documentation.

 

[Speculaytor]

The gun was not secured. Being locked up is not the same thing as being secured. The proof it wasn't secured is that the young boy was able to get the gun and take it to school. If the gun was secured, the boy would not have been able to get it. That is what secure is. I am not sure of Virginia law, but California law charges the gun owner too.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/01/19/richneck-elementary-shooting-family-statement/

 

[Speculaytor]

I see no way to contain the identity of the family or child, sadly.

News travels by word of mouth quickly. Parents will demand answers or search till they do. The school failed in the search for the gun. The school failed to contact LE. I would have concerns about other siblings in school and if they have access to guns.

The system failed. Parents and kids are scared, yes they want answers. I would have ZERO trust in the system after this.

All my opinion

I agree. I do believe the parents' names will end up being released. IDK, things are tightening up, so maybe people will be afraid to post anything. He is a minor, there could be legal problems to release his name. I think he will be protected from social media, locally maybe not. As you said, word of mouth travels quickly.

 

[Simply Southern]

Per article, School Board meeting Tuesday night closed session

Richneck students to return to class Jan. 30

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) – Richneck Elementary School students will return to class Jan. 30, a Newport News Public Schools spokeswoman has confirmed. The school has been closed since Jan. 6, …

www.wavy.com

Richneck Elementary School students will return to class Jan. 30, a Newport News Public Schools spokeswoman has confirmed.

 

[TLobo]

RSBM

At age 6, he either had an IEP or still covered by IFSP, as he was still 6 years old. IFSP is for children with disabilities from age 3 to 6. Switches to IEP usually at first grade, age 7. Generally, it starts with "speech therapy", unless he has another specific disability, but a behavior disorder is not usually identified until age 8 or 9, due to the data and documentation needed to qualify a child with an emotional/behavior eligibility. Up to that point, a lot of things are fluid, giving kids chances to adjust to school, specific support is given to kids in kindergarten, first grade, who are lagging. If they don't catch up to grade level by 2nd grade, that is usually when testing comes into play for identification for an IEP.

Respectfully, this is not completely accurate. I've written umpteen IFSPs as a birth-3 SLP, and dozens of IEPs for kids turning 3 who have been identified as having speech and language delays, only.

IFSP = Individual Family Service Plan, valid from birth up to the 3rd birthday. Services focus on supporting the family in order to support the child in his/her natural environment (generally home or daycare at this age). IEP = Individual Education Plan, valid from 3rd birthday up through age 21, when a student legally ages out of the education system. Services are designed to support the student in his/her educational setting.

In my professional opinion, a 6 year old could have an IEP that includes behavior IF the child has been involved with early childhood special education since he was really young. In our program, there were certainly preschoolers with behavior management components to their IEPs, but they had been under watch and intervention with copious amounts of data recorded across multiple years of service. If this student has cognitive delays (didn't we hear from the principal that his "plan" was for cognitive and behavior?), he likely would have been receiving services since before beginning kindergarten, allowing for those RTI (response to intervention) supports to be in place and evaluated. All MOO based on my experience.

Pacer FAQ

 

[PriorTheCreator]

Dude, seriously. Six year olds cannot comprehend the consequences of shooting someone. Their brains literally can't. There is plenty of pretend shooting each other that goes on but whatever your opinions on if that effects it, little kids simply do not understand it. They can be taught to simply fear guns and that if they even try to touch a real gun they will be in big big trouble but that's the best you can do at that age.

It's understandable for the parents' identities to remain concealed right now while the court of public opinion is howling for their blood, which I don't understand compared to parents of teenage shooters who knowingly allowed their unstable children access to firearms, if not provided them. Probably some kind of misplaced "protect the children" instincts

As far as what happened the day of the shooting, if I were to speculate I would say that the kid himself made some other kid aware that he had a gun, maybe even showed it to him. The kid told on him but he knew it was happening so he moved the gun, say from his backpack to his desk. The school official searched his backpack, as was the minimal responsibility there and shrugged it off as the kid who saw the gun having made it up. I honestly expect even the teacher who was shot was aware of it the accusation.

This story would almost certainly reflect badly on all kinds of people if all the information was public and we may NEVER know the details but certainly something needs to change in that community and ones like it.

Children begin to grasp death's finality around age 4. In one typical study, researchers found that 10 percent of 3-year-olds understand irreversibility, compared with 58 percent of 4-year-olds. The other two aspects of death are learned a bit later, usually between age 5 and 7.

When Do Kids Understand Death?

Wednesday morning I went to the funeral of my husband's grandfather, who had lived 93 years. As a couple of dozen family members circled around his grave site, I couldn't help but think of how bizarre and disorienting death is.

www.nationalgeographic.com