Abby Zwerner was shot by a 6-year-old as she sat at a reading table in her classroom at the Richneck Elementary school, Newport News, Virginia on January 6, 2023. A bullet went through her hand and into her chest. She suffered significant injuries, including a collapsed lung. The boy used a gun belonging to his mother. Zwerner has filed a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against the school former assistant principal Ebony Parker. Zwerner claims that the student who shot her had a history of issues, including an incident when he allegedly strangled and choked a teacher. Zwerner also claims that Parker had a reputation for ignoring teachers concerns and allowing students to get away with misconduct. On the day of the shooting, Parker is accused of ignoring warnings about the student and allegedly refused to grant permission for a guidance counselor to search the student for a firearm. In the lawsuit Zwerner claims that she suffered permanent bodily injuries, physical pain, mental anguish, lost earnings and other damages. It seeks $40 million in compensatory damages. In a separate criminal case Ebony Parker faces is charged with eight counts of felony child abuse and disregard for life in connection with the shooting. The boy's mother, Deja Taylor, faced state criminal charges for allowing her son to get a hold of the gun for which she was sentenced to two years in prison for child neglect. She was also sentenced to 21 months in prison after pleading guilty to federal charges of using marijuana while in possession of a firearm and making a false statement about her drug use during the purchase of the firearm.