Full Breakdown
Body-Cam Footage Shows Defiant 6-Year-Old After Virginia Teacher Shooting
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Police body-camera video released this week captures the moments after a first-grader shot his teacher at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia. The child, identified in court only as J.T., is seen being restrained by reading specialist Amy Kovac while officers secure a 9 mm Taurus handgun on the classroom floor.
Background & Context
The shooting occurred in January 2023. The bullet passed through teacher Abby Zwerner’s hand and lodged in her chest, where it remains. Zwerner later testified that she believed she was dying. A civil jury awarded her $10 million in damages in 2025, finding former assistant principal Ebony Parker grossly negligent for ignoring warnings that the child might bring a gun to school. Parker’s earlier criminal case was dismissed after a judge ruled the state’s child-neglect statutes did not apply.
Key Figures & Groups
- Abby Zwerner – former first-grade teacher and shooting survivor.
- Deja Taylor – mother of the shooter; sentenced to two years state prison for child neglect and 21 months federal prison for weapons violations.
- Ebony Parker – former assistant principal; civilly liable for the $10 million judgment, criminal charges dismissed.
- Amy Kovac – reading specialist who restrained the child and spoke with officers on scene.
Data & Statistics
- $10 million civil verdict for Zwerner (2025).
- Two years state prison and 21 months federal prison for Taylor (sentenced in 2023).
- The handgun contained one live round that fired; sources note seven additional rounds remained in the jammed weapon.
Official Statements & Responses
Circuit Court Judge Rebecca M. Robinson ordered the video unsealed but required the child’s face to be blurred, labeling the evidence “Commonwealth’s Exhibit 1.” Prosecutor Joshua Jenkins argued that Virginia law does not support continued sealing.
On-the-Ground Report
Kovac replies, “You can stay for now.” When an officer asks about the gun, Kovac says, “It’s over there, whore,” prompting the boy’s profanity.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Number of extra rounds: Pilot Online reports “seven more rounds” were found, while other outlets simply note the gun was “jammed” with additional ammunition undisclosed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I called 911 when I heard this,” — Amy Kovac
- “I mean, he does have the gun residue, looks like,” — Amy Kovac
- “OK, let’s just not touch his hands or anything, OK?” — Officer Brian Torrez
- “We know you know that language — and you know that’s not appropriate,” — Amy Kovac
Why It Matters
The video provides a rare public view of a school-shooting aftermath involving a child perpetrator and highlights debates about school safety protocols and the legal responsibilities of staff who receive threat warnings.
What’s Next
The unsealed footage will be used in upcoming civil proceedings and may inform policy discussions on firearm storage, school threat reporting, and the treatment of minors involved in violent incidents.