Administrators Were Warned Three Times Before VA Teacher Shot By Student, Attorney Says

Diane Toscano, an attorney for the teacher, who is recovering from serious injuries, said in a news conference on Wednesday, Jan. 25 that staff members warned administrators at Richneck Elementary School at least three times about the boy, who was armed and threatening other students hours before pulling the gun on Zwerner.

According to Toscano, she plans to sue the school district over the shooting, which Zwerner is still recovering from at home.

“(She) was shot in front of those horrified kids and the school and community are living the nightmare all because the school administration failed to act,” Toscano said during the conference.

Toscano said that the administration “was paralyzed by apathy,” and failed to remove the child from class on Tuesday, Jan. 6, when he shot Zwerner in an apparently premeditated attack, according to the AP.

According to Toscano, administrators were approached by teachers on the day of the shooting who said the boy threatened to beat up another child. Another reportedly searched the boy’s backpack, but he was able to hide the weapon.

A third claimed that a distressed student approached them and said the boy showed him the gun during recess and threatened to shoot him if he told anyone, the AP reported.

The boy also reportedly had questionable interactions with staff and students prior to the shooting.

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“Abby and these other teachers at Richneck Elementary School tried to do the right thing on Jan. 6, the day of the shooting,” Toscano said. “On that day, over the course of a few hours three different times … three times … school administrators were warned by concerned teacher and employees that the boy had a gun on him at the school and was threatening people.


“But the administration could not be bothered.

“This tragedy was entirely preventable if the school administrators responsible for school safety had done their part and taken action with their knowledge of imminent danger,” Toscano continued. “But instead, they failed to act, and Abby was shot.” 

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