Full Breakdown
Criminal Charges Dismissed for Former Assistant Principal Ebony Parker
5/22/2026, 12:18:15 AM
2023 Richneck Elementary Shooting
In January 2023, a six-year-old student entered a first-grade classroom at Richneck Elementary in Newport News, Virginia, with a loaded handgun and fired, wounding teacher Abby Zwerner. Zwerner required two weeks of hospitalization, six surgeries, and a bullet remains near her heart, limiting use of her left hand. The student’s mother, Deja Taylor, was later sentenced on felony child-neglect and federal weapons charges.
Judge Dismisses All Felony Child Neglect Counts
On May 21, 2026, Newport News Circuit Court Judge Rebecca Robinson dismissed all eight felony child-neglect counts against former assistant principal Ebony Parker. The judge ruled the alleged conduct would require new legislation to constitute a crime, and therefore the criminal case was terminated.
Data Summary
The case involved eight counts—one per bullet in the gun. Each count carried a maximum five-year sentence. A civil jury awarded Zwerner $10 million in November 2025. Zwerner’s injuries include a bullet near her heart, six surgeries, and limited left-hand function.
Official Statements
Zwerner’s attorneys said the dismissal removes the city’s ability to block insurance coverage for the $10 million judgment. Parker’s counsel called the ruling a “great relief” for their client. Judge Robinson emphasized that the decision rested on legal theory, not on factual guilt.
Opposition
Zwerner’s team criticized Newport News for using the pending criminal case to deny insurance, arguing it was a procedural shield. Parker’s defense shifted blame to teachers, suggesting they should have separated the student. Karen Piere, Zwerner’s aunt, called for systemic changes and accountability for administrators handling violent children.
Conflicting Reports
Sources differ on Deja Taylor’s sentence: some describe it as “nearly four years,” while others list a split term of two years for child neglect and 21 months for federal weapons charges. No source confirms whether the $10 million judgment has been fully paid.
Verbatim Quotes
- “One of the many obstacles the City of Newport News placed in Abby Zwerner's path to justice was their argument they could deny insurance coverage in our civil case because of possible criminal conduct,” — Zwerner’s attorneys
- “We believe that the correct outcome was reached, and we're thrilled for Dr. Parker,” — Stephen Teague, attorney for Ebony Parker
- “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,” — Special prosecutor Josh Jenkins
- “So those matters are dismissed,” — Judge Rebecca Robinson
Next Steps
The $10 million civil judgment remains enforceable, and the city must address insurance coverage claims. Both sides have indicated readiness to pursue appellate review of the criminal dismissal while school officials continue to face scrutiny over safety protocols.
