Police say Virginia teacher shot by six-year-old was "not accidental"

Newport News, Virginia - A six-year-old shot his elementary school teacher in an incident investigators now say was premeditated.

Last Friday, a six-year-old student shot his teacher at school in an incident that law enforcement are now saying was "not an accidental shooting."
Last Friday, a six-year-old student shot his teacher at school in an incident that law enforcement are now saying was "not an accidental shooting."  © Jay Paul/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/Getty Images via AFP

Local Police Chief Steve Drew said that the shooting that took place at Richneck Elementary on Friday was "not an accidental shooting," according to CNN.

He further explained that there was some sort of altercation between the boy and his teacher while in a packed classroom before a firearm was discharged with a single round.

The victim, Abby Zwerner, was shot in the abdomen. In an update from the Newport News Police Department, she was listed in stable condition as of Saturday. Fortunately, no one else was harmed.

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The student was immediately taken into custody, but due to his young age, the case is extremely sensitive.

"We have been in contact with our commonwealth attorney and some other entities to help us best get services to this young man," Cheif Drew added.

So far, specific details as to the nature of the altercation, how the child got the gun, and how thorough the planning was has not been revealed, but the city's mayor Philip Jones vows to get to the bottom of it.

"There's a lot of questions that we have to answer as a community," the mayor said on Sunday. "Up with, how a six-year-old was able to have a gun, know how to use it in such a deliberate manner … The individuals responsible will be held accountable. I can promise that."

Richneck Elementary School announced that they will remain closed for the week of January 9 to give "students and families additional time to heal."

Cover photo: Jay Paul/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/Getty Images via AFP

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