Family of 6-year-old Virginia boy who shot first-grade teacher says firearm accessed by their son 'was secured' - NBC News

The household of a 6-year-old lad who shot a first-grade teacher successful her classroom earlier this period said the weapon retrieved from their location was secured, according to a connection from their attorney.

“Our household has ever been committed to liable weapon ownership and keeping firearms retired of the scope of children. The firearm our lad accessed was secured,” according to the Thursday connection provided to NBC News by lawyer James Ellenson.

The connection continued: “Our bosom goes retired to our son’s teacher and we commune for her healing successful the aftermath of specified an unimaginable calamity arsenic she selflessly served our lad and the children successful the school. She has worked diligently and compassionately to enactment our household arsenic we sought the champion acquisition and learning situation for our son. We convey her for her courage, grace and sacrifice. We grieve alongside each of the different teachers, families and administrators for however this horrific incidental has impacted them, our community, and the nation."

In the Jan. 6 shooting, Abigail Zwerner was critically wounded portion teaching astir 20 students. ZWerner survived and is recovering, officials person said.

Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew said the boy's parent legally purchased the weapon which the lad took from his home. He said a cardinal constituent successful the probe volition beryllium to find if the weapon was decently secured. No charges person been announced successful the case.

The household said the kid is disabled.

“Our lad suffers from an acute disablement and was nether a attraction program astatine the schoolhouse that included his parent oregon begetter attending schoolhouse with him and accompanying him to people each day. Additionally, our lad has benefitted from an extended assemblage of attraction that besides includes his grandparents moving alongside america and different caregivers to guarantee his needs and accommodations are met. The week of the shooting was the archetypal week erstwhile we were not successful people with him. We volition regret our lack connected this time for the remainder of our lives.”

Since the shooting, the connection added, the lad has been successful a infirmary receiving the “treatment helium needs.”

“We proceed to commune for his teacher’s afloat recovery, and for her loved ones who are undoubtedly upset and concerned. At the aforesaid time, we emotion our lad and are asking that you delight see him and our household successful your prayers,” according to the statement.

The schoolhouse system’s superintendent, George Parker III, said during a Jan. 12 virtual municipality hallway that wasn’t nationalist that the lad had travel to schoolhouse precocious and that his publication container was inspected upon his arriving astatine the bureau to motion in, according to parents who watched the meeting.

“At slightest 1 head was notified of a imaginable weapon,” Parker said successful a video reviewed by NBC News.

A Newport News constabulary spokeswoman said authorities besides determined done their probe that “a schoolhouse worker was notified of a imaginable firearm astatine Richneck Elementary earlier the shooting occurred,” adding, “The Newport News Police Department was not notified of this accusation anterior to the incident.”

Further details haven't been made disposable astir who conducted the search, wherefore the weapon wasn’t recovered and whether the child’s covering was physically examined.

A typical with the Newport News constabulary cited the ongoing probe Thursday erstwhile declining comment. The schoolhouse territory could not beryllium instantly reached for comment.

During a raucous schoolhouse committee gathering Tuesday night, parents, teachers and students told the superintendent and committee members that teachers were not capable to decently subject problematic students.

Attendees besides said the territory has failed to decently support students and staff, noting determination person been three incidents of weapon unit connected schoolhouse properties successful 17 months.

Prior to the shooting astatine Richneck, In September 2021, a 16-year-old fired respective shots successful a engaged hallway successful Heritage High School during lunchtime, injuring 2 17-year-olds, NBC affiliate WAVY of Portsmouth, Virginia, reported.

The shooter was sentenced to 10 years successful prison, according to the station.

Less than 2 months later, successful December, Demari Batten, 18, fatally changeable Justice Dunham, 17, successful the parking batch of Menchville High School aft a shot crippled against Woodside High School, besides successful the Newport News Public Schools system, according to WAVY.

Quinn Chambers, 26, who has a lad successful kindergarten astatine Richneck, told NBC News astatine the schoolhouse committee meeting: "The territory fto america down. It's the parents occupation to rise the kids but the district's occupation to supply immoderate benignant of information and security."

Richneck has been closed since the shooting.

District officials person said erstwhile it reopens, the simple schoolhouse volition beryllium outfitted with a metallic detector. The territory has besides secured backing for 90 state-of-the-art detectors that volition beryllium placed connected each territory campus, officials said.