A Virginia judge dismissed all criminal charges Thursday against former Richneck Elementary assistant principal Ebony Parker, who had been accused of ignoring repeated warnings before a 6-year-old student shot teacher Abby Zwerner on Jan. 6, 2023.
Circuit Court Judge Rebecca Robinson granted Parker’s motion to strike after prosecutors rested their case, ruling that Parker’s alleged failures did not constitute a criminal offense under existing Virginia law. “The court is of the legal opinion that this is not a crime,” Robinson said from the bench.
Speaking to a silent courtroom, Robinson said that if Parker’s actions are to be treated as criminal conduct, lawmakers would first need to formally define them as such in state law. “Therefore, I do grant the defense motion to strike in full on all counts, all eight counts of felony child abuse and endangerment.”
Parker lowered her head and broke down in tears.
As Fox News reports:
Parker was charged with eight counts of felony child neglect in the January 2023 shooting at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News.
The charges alleged Parker “did commit a willful act or omission in the care of such students, in a manner so gross, wanton and culpable as to show a reckless disregard for human life,” according to court documents.
…
The trial began with opening statements Tuesday, and the prosecution called 16 witnesses in all. On Tuesday, Zwerner took the stand recounting the moment her 6-year-old student opened fire on her in January 2023.
“I saw this student looking at me,” she testified. “I looked over, the gun was pointed right at me, and then I was shot.”
Parker had faced eight felony child neglect charges — one for each bullet inside the child’s handgun — after prosecutors argued she recklessly failed to act despite multiple staff warnings that the first-grade student may have brought a gun to school. Witnesses testified that teachers and staff alerted administrators throughout the day that the boy reportedly threatened classmates and may have possessed a firearm.
The 6-year-old boy used his mother’s 9 mm handgun to shoot Zwerner in the hand and chest during class. Despite suffering severe injuries, Zwerner managed to evacuate her students before collapsing.
During the criminal trial, prosecutors argued Parker ignored multiple opportunities to intervene, including requests from school staff to search the student. Defense attorneys countered that Parker may have made mistakes but did not commit a criminal act and had no clear evidence the child actually possessed a firearm.
Legal analysts described the prosecution as highly unusual because criminal charges against school administrators following shootings are rare and Virginia law does not clearly define criminal liability for omissions or failures to act in such circumstances. Judge Robinson said any expansion of liability would likely require action from the Virginia legislature.
Although Parker’s criminal case has now ended permanently, she still faces major civil consequences. Last year, a jury awarded Zwerner $10 million in damages after concluding Parker acted negligently by failing to respond appropriately to warnings before the shooting.
The child’s mother, Deja Taylor, previously pleaded guilty to state child neglect charges and federal firearms offenses connected to the shooting and served prison time.
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More ultra liberal “justice”.