A student teacher who was shot by a 6-year-old student at school has been awarded $40 million in damages

A 25-year-old teacher, Abigail Zwirner, has sued the principal of her elementary school in Newport News, Virginia, after she was shot and killed by a 6-year-old student last January.

He accused the school administration of ignoring warnings from staff and students that the 6-year-old was armed with Zwerner, who is seeking $40 million in damages.

Although school shootings have been a disaster in the United States, the January 6 attack in Newport News was unusual because of the age of the gunman, who police say deliberately targeted his first-grade teacher.

Abigail Zwirner, deputy principal of Rechnick Elementary School, accuses Ebony Parker of endangering her life by ignoring at least three reports of a gun sighting at the school, possibly in the possession of the 6-year-old attacker. Ebony Parker resigned after the attack.

The lawsuit names two other officials: former school principal George Parker, who was fired after the attack, and former elementary school principal Brianna Foster Newton, who was transferred to another position.

The 25-year-old teacher claimed that the school administration knew the 6-year-old had a history of assaulting classmates and teachers, but allowed him to return to Rechnik after being temporarily removed for violent behaviour.

For its part, the school administration admitted that it had received warnings that the boy was carrying a weapon in the school, but a search of his belongings did not show a weapon.

Police hailed Abigail Zwirner, 25, as a hero in evacuating her classroom, even though the 6-year-old shot her in the arm and chest.

The Virginia district attorney said he does not plan to press charges against the 6-year-old, but attorneys say the student’s mother will be held responsible if it is determined that the gun was not kept in a safe in the family home.

The boy’s family said in a statement that the gun was “secured” at the home. He points out that the 6-year-old is facing a serious health problem, and after consulting with the school administration, one of the parents accompanied him to class every day. However, he confirms that for the first time in the week from 2 to 6 January, none of them were with the student in class, without explaining the reason.