{"id":2351,"date":"2026-05-21T17:40:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T17:40:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/05\/21\/virginia-judge-dismisses-charges-against-assistant-principal-in-teacher-shooting-case\/"},"modified":"2026-05-21T17:40:02","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T17:40:02","slug":"virginia-judge-dismisses-charges-against-assistant-principal-in-teacher-shooting-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=2351","title":{"rendered":"Virginia judge dismisses charges against assistant principal in teacher shooting case"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"border-color:var(--article-border);background-color:var(--article-inner-background)\" class=\"dcr-wqti5a\">\n<div class=\"dcr-2zxs1v\">\n<div style=\"--grid-area:media\" data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tr9ye5\">\n<figure id=\"4ba82e93-5c7a-477f-a8af-109bfd96ba47\" class=\"dcr-142siv7\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A woman in a blue suit looks off to the side as a man in a suit holds documents near her\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/97e4579af2df6039bb9c60eb8bae55fbb98af13e\/0_0_3598_2400\/master\/3598.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"310.1723179544191\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><span class=\"dcr-v822l1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-gup2gr\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fntg6k\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-1xgwz8b\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1os51wo\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Ebony Parker during jury selection at the Newport News circuit court in Virginia on Monday.<\/span> Photograph: Peter Casey\/Pool The Virginian-Pilot\/AP<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"4ba82e93-5c7a-477f-a8af-109bfd96ba47\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-n4pnam\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1hdkqum\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Ebony Parker during jury selection at the Newport News circuit court in Virginia on Monday.<\/span> Photograph: Peter Casey\/Pool The Virginian-Pilot\/AP<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:border\" data-gu-name=\"border\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:headline\" data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1aqe7zu\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-1k1a1x\">Virginia judge dismisses charges against assistant principal in teacher shooting case<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:standfirst\" data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-15in7js\">\n<p>Ebony Parker was accused of ignoring warnings about six-year-old boy who shot and wounded his teacher in 2023<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/news\/2026\/feb\/17\/sign-up-for-the-breaking-news-us-email-to-get-newsletter-alerts-direct-to-your-inbox?utm_medium=ACQUISITIONS_STANDFIRST&amp;utm_campaign=BN22326&amp;utm_content=signup&amp;utm_term=standfirst&amp;utm_source=GUARDIAN_WEB\" data-link-name=\"in standfirst link\">Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:body\" data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-kn9unn\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1a4fred\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-ydnaza\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-1c9t5u6\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/virginia\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Virginia<\/a> judge has thrown out a case against an elementary school principal who was accused of failing to act on warnings that a six-year-old student had brought a gun to school, leading to the wounding of his teacher in 2023.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The eight-count indictment against Richneck elementary assistant principal Ebony Parker was dismissed abruptly on Thursday on legal principles just one day after prosecutors rested their case.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The Newport News circuit court judge Rebecca Robinson said Parker\u2019s actions did not amount to a crime under <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/virginia\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Virginia<\/a> law.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"79e32750-ed42-4cfc-aacc-fd5203eb2f1f\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-47fhrn\">\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" data-link-name=\"rich-link-3 | 3\" data-component=\"rich-link\" data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-1kyw41h\">\n<div data-format-theme=\"5\" data-format-design=\"0\" data-format-display=\"0\" class=\"dcr-1bg5532\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/19\/nine-year-old-boy-san-diego-shooting-mosque\" class=\"dcr-1m887w9\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-ut4tvs\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1h5b6rb\">\n<div class=\"dcr-169d7yv\">Boy, nine, recounts deadly shooting at San Diego mosque: \u2018We saw a bunch of bad stuff\u2019<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-eurq8n\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fkf7vq\">Read more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Parker had been accused of failing to act on multiple warnings that the student had a gun that was later used to shoot first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner in her classroom.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Several school employees told Parker they believed the child had a gun in his backpack, only to be told by Parker that the child\u2019s mother would be arriving soon to pick him up for the day, prosecutors said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">But on Thursday, Judge Robinson dismissed the case, ending efforts to find Parker criminally accountable.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Concerns had earlier been raised after a juror had asked for clarification about testimony and referred to the jury in the collective as \u201cwe\u201d, indicating that jurors may have discussed the case before deliberations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Judge Robinson said she made her decision after listening to the evidence the past several days. Outside court, Parker\u2019s mother <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailypress.com\/2026\/05\/21\/judge-dismisses-cases-richneck\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">told the Daily Press<\/a> that the decision was \u201cby the grace of God\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cIt\u2019s been a long, long haul, for not a good reason,\u201d she said, noting that her daughter was \u201ca really great educator. A great teacher. A great person to advocate for the kids. That\u2019s what breaks my heart, because these kids need every help they can get.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Curtis Rogers, an attorney for Parker, said that while his client may have \u201cmade a mistake\u201d and had a \u201clapse in judgment\u201d, she did not commit a crime.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">In November last year, Zwerner <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2025\/nov\/06\/virginia-school-teacher-shot-awarded-10m\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">was awarded $10m in damages<\/a> after a jury concluded that Parker had ignored warnings that a 9mm gun was on school property and probably in the possession of the boy who shot her.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The boy removed the gun once in his classroom and fired a single bullet at Zwerner, hitting her in her hand and chest. Zwerner subsequently had five hand operations and still has a bullet lodged in her chest.<\/p>\n<figure data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.NewsletterSignupBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\">\n<div data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-ri3hap\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Zwerner had been seated at a table during a first-grade reading class when the student drew a handgun from his front hoodie pocket and fired the round. The gun, with six bullets left in the magazine, then jammed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">At that trial, jurors heard that three first-grade students reported that the boy had a weapon \u2013 two girls saying it was in his bag and third student reportedly telling a teacher that the boy showed him a gun during break.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">In 2023, Deja Taylor, the student\u2019s mother, was sentenced to two years in prison for felony child neglect by a judge who chastised her for abdicating her responsibilities as a parent.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The dismissal of the case against against Parker came after her attorneys placed blame for the shooting on Zwerner, who, they claimed, had witnessed the child\u2019s movements long before the shooting and failed to take action.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">In court, Zwerner said the six-year-old had slammed her phone to the ground days earlier and was in a \u201cviolent\u201d mood the day of the shooting. Zwerner also said she had texted a reading specialist on the day of the shooting that the student was wearing an oversize hoodie with his hands in his pockets.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-qxqnsy\"><span class=\"dcr-1rq3vad\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1dzx48f\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-1rrvs2w\">\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/virginia\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Virginia<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/world\/gun-crime\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Gun crime<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/society\/children\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Children<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/education\/schools\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Schools<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-crime\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US crime<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-nu129i\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Virginia%20judge%20dismisses%20charges%20against%20assistant%20principal%20in%20teacher%20shooting%20case&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/21\/virginia-judge-dismisses-charges-assistant-principal-teacher-shooting?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-125qj9d\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-zhx6xs\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fmay%2F21%2Fvirginia-judge-dismisses-charges-assistant-principal-teacher-shooting&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/may\/21\/virginia-judge-dismisses-charges-assistant-principal-teacher-shooting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-14rjinq\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:right-column\" data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1h2hraq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tn16h9\">\n<section class=\"dcr-1hko8ef\"><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ebony Parker during jury selection at the Newport News circuit court in Virginia on Monday. Photograph: Peter Casey\/Pool<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":2353,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2351","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2351","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2351"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2351\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2353"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2351"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2351"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2351"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}