Teacher allegedly shot by 6-year-old released from hospital as child's family sends condolences, says gun was secured - CNN

CNN  — 

The household of the 6-year-old Virginia lad who allegedly changeable his first-grade teacher astatine a Newport News simple schoolhouse astir 2 weeks agone has released a connection for the archetypal clip since the incident, lauding the teacher and saying their kid has an acute disability.

“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,” the Thursday statement, released by lawyer James Ellenson, said.

The connection comes connected the aforesaid time officials announced Richneck Elementary School teacher Abby Zwerner, who was wounded successful the January 6 schoolroom shooting, has been released from the hospital.

Zwerner, 25, was changeable successful the thorax aft the slug passed done 1 of her hands, Newport News Chief of Police Steve Drew told reporters past week. Police person not identified the first-grade pupil they accidental was responsible.

In the statement, the household said the weapon allegedly utilized was secured earlier the shooting. They besides said a household subordinate usually went to people with him, but not the week of the incident.

“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 Class each day,” the household connection says. “We volition regret our lack connected this time for the remainder of our lives.”

The weapon was legally purchased by the child’s mother, who could look charges astatine the extremity of the investigation, according to Drew. The kid brought it to schoolhouse successful his backpack, helium said.

Under Virginia law, it’s a misdemeanor if an big leaves a loaded, unsecured firearm successful specified a mode it could endanger a kid nether the property of 14. The statute besides says it is unlawful for a idiosyncratic to unknowingly let a kid nether the property of 12 to usage a firearm.

Ellenson had nary remark connected CNN’s follow-up questions connected however the weapon was secured and however the kid was capable to entree it the time of the shooting. The connection said the household has been cooperating with investigators.

The family’s connection besides praised Zwerner.

“She has worked diligently and compassionately to enactment our household arsenic we sought the champion acquisition and learning situation for our son,” the household said. “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.”

Newport News Public Schools said Thursday it could not merchandise immoderate further accusation astir the shooting astatine this time.

Riverside Regional Medical Center spokesperson Angela Arcieri said Zwerner was released earlier this week.

“(Zwerner) continues her betterment arsenic an outpatient with the enactment of family, friends, and wellness professionals. The Zwerner household respectfully asks for privateness during this time,” Arcieri wrote successful an emailed statement.

Police person described the shooting, which initially near the teacher critically injured, arsenic “intentional.”

Zwerner has been praised for her heroic actions keeping her students harmless aft she was shot. She made definite each her students made it retired of the classroom, Drew said, and was the past idiosyncratic to permission her schoolroom earlier making her mode to the medication office.

Classrooms are closed until astatine slightest January 30, erstwhile the adjacent semester begins. Officials person “organized a clip for Richneck families to statesman transitioning students backmost into the building” adjacent Wednesday, according to the school’s website.

The schoolhouse is hosting affectional enactment services Thursday and Friday for students and families.

The Richneck shooting was the archetypal of 2023 astatine a US school, according to a CNN analysis. In 2022, determination were 60 shootings astatine K-12 schools, the CNN investigation shows.

Still, schoolhouse shootings by a fishy truthful young are precise rare. According to the K-12 School Shooting Database, which tracks shootings successful American schools since 1970, determination person been 3 different cases successful which the fishy was arsenic young arsenic 6: successful 2000, 2011 and 2021.