Full Breakdown
Assistant Principal Ebony Parker on Trial for Fatal Neglect in 6-Year-Old School Shooting
5/20/2026, 3:09:31 AM
Core Event: Charges and Allegations
In May 2026, Newport News Circuit Court heard opening statements in the case of Ebony Parker, the former assistant principal of Richneck Elementary School. Parker faces eight felony child-neglect counts, each tied to a bullet found in the 6-year-old student’s gun that was used to shoot first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner in January 2023. Prosecutors allege Parker ignored repeated warnings, failed to search the child, and did not remove the student from the classroom despite having the authority to act.
Background: January 2023 Shooting at Richneck Elementary
On a January morning in 2023, a 6-year-old student entered a first-grade classroom with a loaded handgun concealed in his backpack. The child fired, wounding teacher Abby Zwerner. Zwerner required two weeks of hospitalization, six surgeries, and lost full use of her left hand; a bullet remains lodged near her heart. The student’s mother later received a nearly four-year prison sentence for felony child neglect and federal weapons charges.
Key Figures
- Ebony Parker – Assistant principal, charged with eight counts of felony child neglect.
- Abby Zwerner – First-grade teacher and shooting victim.
- Josh Jenkins – Special prosecutor leading the case.
- Curtis Rogers – Defense attorney for Parker.
- School principal – Not named, reportedly unaware of the threat.
- School security officer – Absent at the time of the incident.
- Reading specialist – Received a text from Zwerner about the child’s behavior.
Timeline of Legal Proceedings
- January 2023 – Shooting occurs; Zwerner injured.
- Early 2023 – Mother sentenced to prison for neglect and weapons violations.
- November 2023 – Civil jury awards Zwerner $10 million; Parker is sole defendant.
- May 2026 – Criminal trial of Parker begins with opening statements.
Data & Statistics
- Eight felony counts – One for each bullet in the firearm.
- Maximum penalty – Five years per count, up to 40 years total.
- Injuries – Zwerner sustained six surgeries; bullet remains in chest.
Why It Matters: School Safety and Legal Accountability
Criminal charges against school officials after a shooting are rare, prompting debate over administrative responsibility in crisis situations. The case tests the enforcement of policies that require administrators to act on reported threats and may influence future protocols for handling weapons in schools.
Official Statements & Responses
Prosecutor Josh Jenkins argued that school policy mandated immediate reporting and decisive action, emphasizing that Parker alone possessed both knowledge of the threat and the authority to intervene. Defense attorney Curtis Rogers countered that teachers and other staff also had the capacity to separate the child from classmates and suggested that responsibility extended beyond Parker.
Criticism & Opposition
Rogers highlighted perceived inaction by Zwerner and other staff, questioning why they did not isolate the student after observing his “violent” mood and unusual jacket. He asserted that the prosecution must prove Parker’s conduct rose to reckless disregard for life.
On-the-Ground Reports
Zwerner testified that the student had slammed her phone to the ground days before the shooting and appeared “violent” on the day of the incident. She also described sending a text about the child’s behavior to a reading specialist, who then alerted Parker.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on who was aware of the threat: Jenkins maintains Parker was the sole informed administrator, while Rogers points to multiple staff members who observed warning signs. Additionally, the security officer’s absence left a procedural gap regarding who could legally conduct a search.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Does she say ‘search the child’? No,” — Josh Jenkins, special prosecutor
- “There was only one person in the school that day that had both the authority to act and the knowledge of the ongoing crisis, and that person, you will see, was Dr. Parker,” — Josh Jenkins
- “What about these other people who had direct contact with this child?” — Curtis Rogers, defense attorney
- “She said the student had slammed her phone to the ground a few days earlier and was in a “violent” mood the day of the shooting.” — Abby Zwerner, first-grade teacher
- “She didn’t even get up from her desk. She didn’t leave her office. Warning after warning after warning, she did nothing.” — Josh Jenkins
What's Next
The jury will deliberate on Parker’s culpability for each count, while the broader education community watches for potential policy revisions on threat reporting and administrative response in schools.
