Charges dismissed against official at school where six-year-old shot teacher

May 21, 2026

A Virginia judge dismissed all eight felony child abuse charges against Ebony Parker, a former assistant principal accused of ignoring multiple warnings before a six-year-old student shot and injured teacher Abigail Zwerner in January 2023. Although Parker became emotional as the charges were dropped, she had already been found grossly negligent in a civil lawsuit where Zwerner was awarded $10 million for her injuries. The child's mother received a combined prison sentence totaling over three years on state and federal charges related to improper gun storage and lying on firearms paperwork.

Who is affected

Abigail Zwerner (teacher who was shot)
Ebony Parker (former assistant principal facing charges)
The six-year-old student who fired the gun
Deja Nicole Taylor (the child's mother, age 26)
Other staff members who reported warnings about the child
Students and faculty at the Newport News elementary school

What action is being taken

No explicit ongoing actions are described in the article. The criminal case against Parker has concluded with dismissal, the civil lawsuit has been resolved with an award to Zwerner, and the mother's sentencing has been completed.

Why it matters

This case highlights critical gaps in school safety protocols and accountability when administrators fail to act on warnings about potential threats. It demonstrates the complex intersection of criminal versus civil liability standards, showing that someone can be found grossly negligent in civil court while not meeting the threshold for criminal conviction. The incident also underscores the serious consequences of improper firearm storage in homes with children and the legal implications of gun ownership combined with illegal drug use.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC