NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — Newport News Commonwealth’s Attorney Howard Gwynn was direct in his response to the special grand jury’s report that Richneck Elementary School had security and administrative failures leading up to a 6-year-old boy shooting his teacher, Abby Zwerner, more than a year ago.
“I was appalled,” Gwynn said, “and the special grand jury’s report speaks for itself.”
Gwynn said that a few times during a news conference Thursday as he recapped what happened at Richneck on Jan. 6, 2023.
Gwynn made it clear he found the report alarming, the criminal actions that led to charges, and unbelievable.
He began the news conference by saying the eyes of the nation turned to Newport News.
He recalled the horror of the story:
- A six-year-old brought a gun to school and shot his teacher.
- That there was clear evidence the child may have had a gun.
- And the administrators weren’t listening, failed to act on what they were being told, and did not care to investigate the truth.
“I was appalled,” Gwynn said. “My children went to public schools here. I went to Newport News Public Schools. The lapse was security, and anyone who read that report should say, how could this happen? How could this happen? Several parents said they wanted a fundraiser [to pay for improvements at the school], and they were denied [by Newport News Public Schools], and I think it’s appalling. Anybody in this room and in this city should be concerned about it.”
Gwynn’s news conference was part of the story, the other part was two blocks over in a Newport News courtroom.
Former Richneck Elementary assistant principal Dr. Ebony Parker was a long way from a classroom as she sat in court facing eight counts of felony child abuse. It was a hearing to declare her attorney.
The charges allege she had a reckless disregard for human life.
“I think they were very clear about what they thought [of] the evidence, and I think it’s crystal clear,” Gwynn said.
NewsNation affiliate WAVY asked Gwynn about the perceived inhumanity Zwerner was shown. She had just been shot by a 6-year-old student, she went to the school’s front office seeking refuge, and it reported Parker, and the principal were in their own offices, doors locked, Parker opens the door, sees Zwerner, then closes the door. Zwerner passes out in the office lobby.
Gwynn understands what this looks like.
“Anybody in this room, in this city who reads this report should be disturbed by it, assuming it’s true,” Gwynn said.
Gwynn spoke about others in that lobby with Zwerner.
“I’m sure you read about the grandmother — she was a hero who was in the office, took a child, not her child, but another child, and hid him behind a copier and a wall,” Gwynn said.
The grandmother then administered aid to Zwerner.
Gwynn spoke about the student, the friend of the shooter who saw the gun.
“That friend thought and feels guilty today because no one listened to him, and his mother is in counseling herself,” Gwynn said.
The report states that the child’s mother and others after the incident wanted to transfer schools, but Newport News Public Schools denied it.
Gwynn’s point with the stories from the report is there are many victims, not just Zwerner. The event has had catastrophic effects on innocence.
“Everything changed that day,” Gwynn said, referring to Jan. 6, 2023.
The grand jury report cites examples how Parker was told there was a possible gun and ignored the warnings, and worse, did nothing to confirm the truth.
“There were teachers and administrators who felt they did not have an opportunity to be heard, so this report gives everyone the opportunity to be heard,” Gwynn said.
The special grand jury thinks missing files and documents could be examples of possible obstruction of justice, and needs to be investigated more thoroughly.
“There is [a] statute of limitations, and if charges are not brought within that one year, then no charges can be brought,” Gwynn said.
That was one of the major new points at the news conference. The clock is ticking to gather all the evidence and file charges, if necessary.
