In brief
Virginia Circuit Judge Rebecca Robinson dismissed all eight felony child neglect charges against Ebony Parker, a former school administrator accused of ignoring warnings that a 6-year-old student possessed a gun before teacher Abby Zwerner was shot in January 2023. The judge declared 'this is not a crime,' overturning charges that could have carried up to five years per bullet count. Defense attorneys argued Parker acted reasonably when the student's mother was scheduled to pick him up. Parker wept during the ruling while the shooting left Zwerner with permanent injuries requiring six surgeries. The dismissal occurs months after the student's mother received a four-year sentence for felony neglect and weapons charges.
In a decisive courtroom ruling Thursday, Virginia Circuit Judge Rebecca Robinson dismissed all eight felony child neglect charges against Ebony Parker, a former Richneck Elementary Assistant Principal accused of ignoring warnings that a 6-year-old student possessed a gun hours before teacher Abby Zwerner was shot. The judge explicitly stated, 'The court is of the legal opinion that this is not a crime,' ending a case that had become the most contentious school safety prosecution in Virginia's history.Parker faced charges tied to the January 2023 shooting at Newport News' Richneck Elementary School where Zwerner was critically wounded. Prosecutors had argued each bullet in the gun brought to class represented a separate count, potentially carrying five-year prison sentences per bullet. Defense attorneys argued Parker's actions weren't neglect, emphasizing she followed protocol when a reading specialist conducted a backpack search after being tipped off by students.'Her actions in no way indicated she believed there was a firearm in the possession of the child,' defense attorney Curtis Rogers told the judge during the motion. Another attorney, Stephen Teague, called the dismissal 'the right outcome' after the trial concluded on the fourth day. Parker, who did not testify, lowered her head and wept as the ruling was read before hugging her attorneys.The case unfolded when a reading specialist reported concerns about the student's oversized jacket during recess. Parker said she couldn't leave her office due to testing but sent the observation to the specialist. After the backpack search found no weapon, she informed the mother she would be arriving to pick up the student. Zwerner testified she'd noticed the child wearing the jacket with hands in pockets during recess and sent a text to the specialist, who had been informed of prior reports.Zwerner spent nearly two weeks hospitalized, requiring six surgeries, and still has limited use of her left hand. A bullet narrowly missed her heart and remains lodged in her chest. She received $10 million in a civil trial last November where Parker was the only defendant. Meanwhile, the student's mother was sentenced to nearly four years in prison for felony child neglect and federal weapons charges.'Charges against school officials after a school shooting are quite rare,' experts noted, adding the case had shocked the military shipbuilding community. The dismissal occurs after Parker's video testimony three days post-shooting showed her complying with safety protocols. Hampton Commonwealth's Attorney Anton Bell acknowledged the community had 'the opportunity to weigh in through the full judicial process' but accepted the court's legal conclusion.The ruling represents a significant legal shift in how such cases might be prosecuted, with defense counsel calling it 'a great relief' for Parker. The case remains controversial as Zwerner's advocacy group continues to push for improved school safety measures despite the criminal charges being dismissed.}
