A Virginia judge has dismissed all charges against Ebony Parker, a former assistant principal at Richneck Elementary School, in the high-profile case stemming from a 2023 classroom shooting where a six-year-old student fatally wounded his teacher. Circuit Court Judge Rebecca Robinson rejected the state's case against Parker, who faced eight felony counts including felony child abuse and disregard for life, citing insufficient evidence.
The incident occurred in January 2023 at Newport News' Richneck Elementary. Six-year-old student Darius Taylor shot teacher Abigail Zwerner during class, striking her in the hand and chest with a single bullet. Zwerner required emergency surgery and later sued Parker for $10 million, alleging the assistant principal ignored three critical warnings that the child possessed a gun. In one instance, Zwerner reportedly told Parker the child was 'in a violent mood' and threatened another student, but Parker allegedly 'had no response' and refused to investigate.
Parker's defense argued she could not have predicted the shooting and disputed Zwerner's claimed injuries. However, a jury previously found Parker's negligence constituted gross misconduct. The dismissal marks a dramatic reversal, with Parker appearing in court sobbing and resting her head on the defendant's table as the judge struck down all charges.
The case has drawn national attention to school safety protocols. While Parker faces no further legal consequences, the child's mother Deja Nicole Taylor, 26, pleaded guilty to felony child neglect and federal gun charges. She received two years on state charges plus 21 months for lying about drug use on the gun permit form. Authorities discovered 1 ounce of cannabis in her home—illegal for gun owners in Virginia—while the child, now in foster care, reportedly obtained the firearm by accessing his mother's handbag on a dresser.
This case underscores ongoing debates about school security and parental responsibility, with Virginia prosecutors emphasizing the need for better warning systems while Parker's defense highlights systemic failures in evidence collection. The dismissal comes as Virginia grapples with rising gun violence in educational settings.}
The incident occurred in January 2023 at Newport News' Richneck Elementary. Six-year-old student Darius Taylor shot teacher Abigail Zwerner during class, striking her in the hand and chest with a single bullet. Zwerner required emergency surgery and later sued Parker for $10 million, alleging the assistant principal ignored three critical warnings that the child possessed a gun. In one instance, Zwerner reportedly told Parker the child was 'in a violent mood' and threatened another student, but Parker allegedly 'had no response' and refused to investigate.
Parker's defense argued she could not have predicted the shooting and disputed Zwerner's claimed injuries. However, a jury previously found Parker's negligence constituted gross misconduct. The dismissal marks a dramatic reversal, with Parker appearing in court sobbing and resting her head on the defendant's table as the judge struck down all charges.
The case has drawn national attention to school safety protocols. While Parker faces no further legal consequences, the child's mother Deja Nicole Taylor, 26, pleaded guilty to felony child neglect and federal gun charges. She received two years on state charges plus 21 months for lying about drug use on the gun permit form. Authorities discovered 1 ounce of cannabis in her home—illegal for gun owners in Virginia—while the child, now in foster care, reportedly obtained the firearm by accessing his mother's handbag on a dresser.
This case underscores ongoing debates about school security and parental responsibility, with Virginia prosecutors emphasizing the need for better warning systems while Parker's defense highlights systemic failures in evidence collection. The dismissal comes as Virginia grapples with rising gun violence in educational settings.}
