Overview
- Circuit Court Judge Rebecca Robinson struck all eight felony child neglect counts against Ebony Parker on Thursday, saying the prosecution’s theory did not allege conduct that current Virginia law makes a crime.
- Prosecutors had argued that multiple school staff warned Parker that a 6-year-old student might have a gun and that she failed to follow crisis procedures, while the defense said teachers could have separated the child and Parker did not believe a weapon was present.
- A civil jury last November found Parker negligent and awarded teacher Abby Zwerner $10 million, and that civil judgment remains in place as appeals and insurance disputes continue.
- Zwerner was seriously wounded in the January 2023 classroom shooting, spent weeks in the hospital, underwent multiple surgeries, still lacks full use of her left hand, and a bullet remains in her chest.
- Legal experts and the judge noted the rarity of criminal cases against school officials in such shootings and said any expansion of criminal liability would likely require new legislation from the Virginia General Assembly.