Newport News: Staff were alerted six-year-old may have had a weapon

A unit subordinate astatine the Virginia schoolhouse wherever a six-year-old lad allegedly changeable his teacher past week had been alerted earlier the shooting that the kid mightiness person a weapon, an authoritative said.

The boy's container was searched, but nary limb was found, Richneck Elementary schoolhouse superintendent George Parker told parents.

First-grade teacher Abigail Zwerner was near with superior injuries aft constabulary accidental the lad changeable her "intentionally".

Police said helium utilized his mother's gun.

The shooting has rocked the municipality of Newport News and raised questions astir what ineligible ramifications the young lad could look for carrying retired the shooting.

"At slightest 1 head was notified of a imaginable weapon," Mr Parker said during an online gathering with parents connected Thursday, according to a clip shared by local quality outlet WAVY-TV. "(The unit member) was alert that that pupil had, determination was a imaginable that determination was a limb connected campus."

The schoolhouse superintendent did not clarify whether the lad hid the limb oregon wherefore authorities did not find it successful his backpack.

The BBC has contacted the schoolhouse superintendent for comments.

After the shooting, constabulary said they recovered a 9mm Taurus pistol successful the people adjacent the student's desk, on with his backpack, a mobile telephone and 1 spent ammunition casing.

Police determined done an interrogation with the child's parent that the weapon was bought legally and stored successful their home.

The shooting happened without warning, and with nary combat oregon carnal struggle, constabulary said.

Newport News constabulary main Steve Drew said the kid fired 1 circular astatine his teacher. He added that the "shooting was not accidental, it was intentional", and that it took spot portion Ms Zwerner was giving a lesson.

The schoolhouse remains closed aft the incident.

Ms Zwerner was successful superior but unchangeable information earlier this week, authorities said.

The schoolhouse is making administrative changes successful the aftermath of the incidental and has consulted with Robb Elementary School successful Uvalde, Texas, wherever a shooter killed 19 children and 2 adults past year.

The schoolhouse territory is installing metallic detectors astatine each field and volition clasp a information grooming time wherever unit tin sermon further information measures, schoolhouse committee Chair Lisa Surles-Law said astatine a quality league Thursday.

Daily metallic detector for checks for students stay rare, taking spot astatine less than 2% of nationalist simple schools successful 2020, according to National Center for Education data.

The territory has not yet said erstwhile Richneck volition reopen. The six-year-old lad is being held astatine a aesculapian facility.

Police person lauded Ms Zwerner for her determination to escort each of her students retired of the schoolroom aft she was shot.