NEW BODYCAM VIDEO REVEALS CHILLING MOMENTS AFTER 6-YEAR-OLD SHOOTS TEACHER ABBY ZWERNER

Newly released police body-camera footage is shedding light on the chaotic moments after a 6-year-old student shot his first-grade teacher inside a Virginia elementary school in 2023.

The video, which had remained sealed until recently, shows officers entering a classroom at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, where staff members were trying to restrain the child and explain what had happened.

The footage has renewed public attention on a case that raised serious questions about school safety, access to firearms and whether earlier warnings could have prevented the shooting.

WHAT POLICE FOUND INSIDE THE CLASSROOM

The shooting happened on January 6, 2023, when teacher Abby Zwerner, then 25, was working with students in her classroom.

According to investigators, the child took a 9mm handgun belonging to his mother and fired a single shot at Zwerner. The bullet passed through her left hand and lodged in her chest.

In the newly released footage, reading specialist Amy Kovac can be seen holding the boy as officers arrive. She directs their attention to the firearm and tells them that the child had admitted to having a weapon.

The boy appears combative during the encounter and repeatedly uses profanity toward adults and responding officers.

When questioned about the gun, he tells police that it belonged to his mother and admits that he took it from her.

The footage provides a disturbing glimpse into the immediate aftermath of the shooting, while also showing school staff attempting to manage a dangerous and unpredictable situation.

A TEACHER’S FIGHT TO RECOVER

Zwerner survived the shooting but suffered serious physical injuries. The bullet remained lodged in her chest despite multiple surgeries, according to reports.

The incident also had a lasting emotional impact. Zwerner later filed a civil lawsuit against former assistant principal Ebony Parker, alleging that school officials failed to respond appropriately to warnings about the child’s behavior and the possibility that he had a gun.

In November 2025, a jury awarded Zwerner $10 million in damages.

Parker’s separate criminal case was dismissed in 2026. The civil verdict and the dismissal of the criminal case were separate legal proceedings.

THE CHILD’S MOTHER FACED PRISON TIME

The investigation also focused on how the child obtained the handgun.

His mother, Deja Taylor, faced federal firearms-related charges and a state charge of felony child neglect. She received prison sentences in both cases, with the sentences ordered to be served consecutively.

The child was not criminally charged because of his age under Virginia law at the time of the incident.

Authorities have not publicly identified him, and his face is blurred in the released footage to protect his identity.

WHY THE VIDEO MATTERS NOW

The body-camera footage was previously used as evidence but remained sealed from public view. It was released after media organizations sought access to the recordings.

Its release has brought renewed attention to the warnings reportedly made before the shooting and the decisions made by school officials.

For Zwerner, the incident changed the course of her life and career. For families and educators, the case remains a sobering reminder of the consequences when a young child gains access to a firearm.

The newly released footage offers a closer look at what happened after the gun was fired, but it also leaves broader questions about school safety and prevention at the center of the public discussion.

Sources:

1. PEOPLE
2. The Washington Post
3. FOX 5 DC
4. WGAL