Y’all… school drama just hit different. Abby Zwerner, the teacher shot by a 6-year-old student at Richneck Elementary in 2023, just scored a $10 million civil win against ex-assistant principal Ebony Parker. And now, all eyes are on Parker’s upcoming criminal trial.
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Zwerner’s Pain Earns $10M Jury Award
In January 2023, Abby Zwerner was shot while teaching at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia. In her civil suit, she accused then-assistant principal Ebony Parker of ignoring multiple warnings. She allegedly ignored that the student had a firearm and failed to allow staff to search him before the shooting.
During the trial, Zwerner detailed how the bullet wounds to her chest and hand continue to impact her daily life. The jury clearly responded to her testimony, awarding her a substantial payout. Though it was only a portion of the $40 million she initially sought. Legal experts noted that the civil verdict won’t automatically be admitted in Parker’s upcoming criminal trial. However, it could give prosecutors added leverage as Parker faces eight felony counts of child neglect later this month.
Civil Win Could Influence Parker’s Upcoming Criminal Trial
The criminal trial, set to start on November 17, will focus on whether Parker ignored clear warnings that the child had a gun at school. Experts say prosecutors have a higher bar to clear — proving guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt” — but Zwerner’s civil win may push Parker toward plea negotiations, especially given the significant prison time she could face if convicted. Observers say this unusual sequencing — civil trial before criminal — gives both sides a preview of the arguments and evidence likely to pop up in court.
Strong Reactions As Zwerner’s Civil Verdict Shakes Schools
Reactions outside the courthouse were strong, with Zwerner’s lawyers stressing the importance of school safety. “I think (the verdict) says that what happened at Richneck Elementary School that day was wrong and is not going to be tolerated,” Diane Toscano said. Parker’s team is expected to appeal the verdict. Still, with the civil jury siding with Zwerner, the legal battle is far from over. And the upcoming criminal trial is now one of the most closely watched cases on school safety and accountability in the country. To note, Deja Taylor, the mother of the child in this case, is even serving time behind bars for her son’s actions.
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