Assistant principal at the Virginia school where a 6-year-old shot trends now
The vice-principal of a Virginia school where a six-year-old boy shot and injured his teacher has resigned, as the fallout from the incident continues.
First-grade teacher Abigail Zwerner, 25, was shot by her student at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News on January 6.
Zwerner's attorney, Diana Toscano, announced on Wednesday that Zwerner was suing, and said that three school employees had warned the administration that the child had a gun in the hours before the incident.
Another teacher had also warned that the six-year-old had left a boy sobbing after showing him the gun - and threatening to shoot him if he told anyone.
Hours after Toscano's press conference, Dr Ebony Parker, the vice principal, was confirmed to have resigned.
Dr Ebony Parker, vice principal of Richneck Elementary, resigned on Wednesday. Her resignation came hours after more details were disclosed about the January 6 shooting of Abbey Zwerner, 25. Zwerner is now suing
It is unclear whether she resigned in protest at the school's administration, or as a result of the ongoing investigation into the shooting.
The school announced last week that there would be changes in leadership, and appointed Karen Lynch, a former principal and Newport News Extended Learning supervisor, to lead the school.
The principal at the time of the shooting, Briana Foster Newton, remains employed by the district, but Lynch has been tasked with 'leading training and preparation activities for Richneck staff moving forward.'
Earlier on Wednesday it emerged that Zwerner had just finished reading a story when the child pulled out the handgun and shot her in the chest in front of her first grade class.
A source close to the investigation told NBC that Zwerner messaged a loved one saying she was 'frustrated because she was trying to get help with this child, for this child, and then when she needed help, no one was coming.'
Toscano, the lawyer, held a bombshell press conference on Wednesday announcing a lawsuit against Newport News Public Schools.
Attendees hold their heads down for a prayer during a vigil for Zwerner in front of the Newport News Public Schools Administration Building on Monday January 9
Messages of support left by students for Abbey Zwerner at the front door of Richneck Elementary School Newport News
A third teacher informed the administration that she had searched the boy's backpack and told them she believed the child had concealed the gun in his pocket.
An administrator is alleged to have dismissed the concerns, responding: 'Well, he has little pockets'.
A fourth teacher asked if he could search the child's backpack but he was denied, Toscano told the press conference.
Zwerner also went to school authorities earlier that day to report the six-year-old had threatened to beat up another student.
Toscano said that her client still has the bullet 'dangerously' lodged inside her body.
She added that Zwerner - who was discharged from hospital last week - is communicating with her daily and gaining strength every day.
However, Toscano said 'the road to full recovery will be long ... and the psychological scars will be lasting.'
The family of the child - who has not been identified - last week put out a statement claiming the firearm had been 'secured.'
They added that the boy 'suffers from an acute disability' and was usually accompanied at school by at least one of his parents.
However, the family said the week of the shooting 'was the first week when we were not in class with him. We will regret our absence on this day for the rest of our lives.'
Police Chief Steve Drew has repeatedly
