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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I have not read all 91 pages of this thread. As a teacher, I have been interested in this case but found it hard to follow all the details.

I went through and combed reports I could find online, and also results of current testimony. This is the summary I have so far with just a few of my own comments.

The boy JT’s behavioral issues began in kindergarten at Richneck Elementary, when he strangled and choked a teacher from behind, and also pulled up a female classmate’s dress and touched her inappropriately on the school playground. Despite this violent act, school officials did not create a behavioral plan. Administrators later decided he should attend a different school, but he returned to Richneck Elementary for first grade without completing kindergarten.

Once back, JT's troubling behaviors resumed. The boy was required to be accompanied by a parent at school “because of his violent tendencies" (although they did not background check his parents and apparently didn't know or care that his father had a criminal background).
 
Two days before the incident, the boy had been suspended for smashing teacher Abby Zwerner’s phone. The day of the incident was the first day back from suspension, and for some reason, the boy was allowed to come to school without a parent accompanying him.

On January 6, 2023, a series of escalating warnings went unaddressed by Assistant Principal Dr. Ebony Parker. (The principal was present in the building, but was never contacted by any of the teachers nor by the AP  so she was unaware of these events and warnings.)

[b]11:15–11:30 a.m.[/b] – Following protocol, first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner (fairly young and with just 2 years experience, I think) notified Assistant Principal Dr. Ebony Parker that the 6-year-old had threatened (earlier that morning) to beat up a kindergartner and had been aggressive with a security officer during lunch. The reading specialist, Amy Kovac , an experienced teacher, was in Dr. Parker’s office at the time and testified that Dr. Parker never looked up from her computer as Zwerner reported the threats. Instead of contacting security or removing the child, the AP Dr. Ebony Parker told Amy Kovac that Zwerner could “call his mom to come pick him up.”

[color=red]My comments:  So right away, notice the message that Ms. Zwerner is getting from her admin. Here's a kid who smashed her phone, has a history of violence, and is *supposed* to have a parent in with him every day and that didn't happen. The AP could not care less that the kid is back from his one day suspension and already is acting out. [/color]

[b]between 11:30 and 12:30[/b]  – Two students told Reading specialist Amy Kovac that JT had a gun in his backpack. Ms Kovac went to Ms Zwerer's classroom and pulled the 1st grader aside and talked to him. When she questioned him, he refused to let her check the bag, saying, “No one is getting that bag.” Ms.  Kovac immediately reported this to Assistant Principal Dr. Ebony Parker, who again took no action.

[b]Recess period (around 12:30 p.m.)[/b] – Reading specialist Amy Kovac decided to wait until recess, when the boy was out of the classroom, to search his backpack. She found only school materials, but no gun. Phew... but while she was walking back to her classroom, Kovac received a text from Abby Zwerner who was outside at recess, saying either that she, herself had seen JT take something from his bag and put it in his pocket, or that a child told her that is what he had seen.  Amy Kovac again immediately went to the AP's office to report this new concern. Dr. Parker dismissed the concern, responding, “He has little pockets.”

The AP didn't inform the principal of any of these reports or concerns. She didn't get up and leave her office to go check things out. She didn't do anything.

[b]Outside at Recess [/b]– Lead first-grade teacher Jennifer West said Abby Zwerner reported that a student had seen the boy move something from his backpack to his coat. Jennifer West watched the boy and another student, “R,” behind a tree for 15–20 minutes. When questioned, “R,” visibly upset, told her the boy had a gun and had threatened to “hurt us, blow us up.” [b]Jennifer West immediately followed protocol and called the office.[/b].

[color=red]My comments: Remember, these are teachers supervising classes of grade 1 students  outside on a playground/recess area. They are BOTH calling the office and calling experienced teachers for help and guidance as to how to handle this boy who again, remember, was deemed so violent and explosive that he wasn't even allowed to be in school without a one-to-one aide (his parents) who were allowed to not be there that day.[/color]

Guidance counselor Rolonzo Rawles presumably was in the office and heard this call, or was somehow made aware of what was going on. He asked the AP Dr. Parker for permission to search the student (not his backpack - his body/clothing). The AP told him to “wait it out” because the school day was nearly over.

[b]Around 1:00 PM[/b] I assume the class came in from recess. I assume 1-2 PM was their reading instruction time. At some point, the guidance counselor went to Ms. Zwerner's classroom and told her that they did not have permission from the AP to search the boy's pockets and clothing.  Ms. Zwerner was sitting at her reading desk, instructing students, when...

Around 2:00 p.m., JT pulled his mother’s handgun from his pocket and shot Abby Zwerner in the hand and chest while she was teaching. The gun jammed after the first shot, though it still contained seven rounds.

Despite her injuries, Zwerner guided her students from the classroom to the school office before collapsing. 
Ms. Kovac testified that she heard a gunshot near the end of the school day and ran into the classroom as children were “screaming and running out.” She saw Zwerner bleeding and immediately contained JT (grabbed and held him firmly) and also managed to call 911, stating, “This is Richneck. A teacher’s been shot, I have the shooter.”  Police confirmed that none of the students (about 16-20 according to their report) were physically injured during the incident. Police also confirmed they saw a teacher contraining JT and that the teacher was being hit and kicked by him.

Investigators later found that Assistant Principal Dr. Ebony Parker had been informed multiple times throughout the day of threats and possible possession of a weapon but failed to alert the principal, the school resource officer, or police, which was a clear violation of the district’s crisis management policy. There was no school security officer on duty at the time of the shooting although there was one in the morning, it appears.

Principal Briana Foster-Newton, though present in the building, was never informed of these reports and was found not criminally liable.

Assistant Principal Dr. Ebony Parker resigned shortly after the shooting. She was indicted by a special grand jury on eight felony counts of child neglect/abuse in connection with the shooting at Richneck Elementary School in Newport  News, Virginia.

JT’s mother Deja Tyler was sentenced to two years in prison; she pled guilty to a state charge of felony child neglect. She is also serving 21 months for two federal felony charges, the unlawful use of a controlled substance while possessing a firearm and making a false statement while purchasing the firearm.

Newport News School District washed its hands of the whole thing. They say they had procedures in place, the administrator just didn’t follow them.

[/quote]

I’ve followed this case closely, including live commentary from parents who were unlucky enough to have kids in that class.  This is a great summary, and it’s so upsetting to re-read.  
Where even to start.  Asking a 6 year old for permission (!) on suspicion there is a gun in his backpack? In what world do you ask such a child for permission for anything, in particular involving a credible threat to the lives of the students? In what world do you let such a child tell you what to do?  In what world does a 6 yr old give a security officer problems?  How are they letting a 5 year old choke a teacher nearly unconscious and still go to that same school?  Who lets criminal parents be present in the classroom every day?   The list of insanity goes on and on.  I hope everyone gets totally slammed with the repercussions of this. Two years for the mother is a bad joke. [/quote]

I think the problem with what you’re saying is the lack of alternatives. In part this is complicated by the fact that I don’t think we even know what to do with a child that has this level of behaviors in terms of education, medical care and behavior modification. There are not even programs or resources for a 5 or 6 year old, much less for one with this level of issues.

The entire situation is totally insane. I can’t recall ever hearing of a child that young planning and executing a shooting or anything close to that level of violence. It was a totally premeditated event with an intent to cause catastrophic loss.

And then there is the issue of lack of resources because people don’t want to work in special ed or even as a teacher. Unfortunately that problem is only getting worse. [/quote]

I hear you.  But when you see the signs you have to believe it! 
It should have all been stopped for good and decisively much earlier!  For one: Calling the police *every single time*  (choking to unconsciousness!  Property destruction of expensive items!  Seriously hurting other children!  Security officer intimidated and couldn’t handle 6-yr-old!  Parents turned out to be criminals, no background checks!) could have resulted in  proper intervention sooner.  It’s also extremely tragic that the other parents in that class and grade were lied to and intentionally kept in the dark about the mounting danger that was put in their midst.  It’s true that there are few professionals with experience of this severity this young, but it is not without precedence.  If you see the signs, believe it. [/quote]

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