The household of the 6-year-old boy who deliberately shot his trainer throughout college earlier this month has spoken out for the primary time.
As we beforehand reported, the stunning incident went down at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, on January 6. Police mentioned the kid – who nonetheless has not been named publicly – allegedly took a handgun from his residence and confirmed as much as college with it in his backpack on January 6. He then shot and wounded 25-year-old trainer Abigail Zwerner in a first-grade classroom in what regulation enforcement has known as an “intentional” act.
Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew mentioned there have been about 16 to twenty college students contained in the classroom on the time of the taking pictures, however none of them have been bodily injured. Calling her “a hero,” he mentioned Abigail managed to get all the youngsters out of the realm regardless of struggling a gunshot wound.
Related: 24-Year-Old Mom & 1-Year-Old Son Mauled To Death In Rare Polar Bear Attack
In the weeks following the horrifying scenario, there have been a whole lot of questions on folks’s minds – together with how did the younger boy acquire entry to the gun? According to ABC News, police mentioned the 9 mm Taurus pistol was legally bought by the child’s mother, however it’s unclear the place or how the weapon was being saved within the residence. However, within the household’s first public assertion about what occurred, their legal professional James Ellenson informed People on Thursday that they insisted the “firearm our son accessed was secured,” including:
“Our family has always been committed to responsible gun ownership and keeping firearms out of the reach of children. We have been cooperating with local and federal law enforcement to understand how this could have happened.”
If it was “secured” as they mentioned, how did he get it then?! The household then shared that the kid “suffers from an acute disability and was under a care plan at the school that included his mother or father attending school with him and accompanying him to class every day.” But the week of the incident was the primary time when neither dad or mum was at school with him:
“We will regret our absence on this day for the rest of our lives.”
At this time, they mentioned their son is receiving care at a hospital, and their “heart goes out to our son’s teacher and we pray for her healing in the aftermath of such an unimaginable tragedy as she selflessly served our son and the children in the school.” The household then expressed:
“She has worked diligently and compassionately to support our family as we sought the best education and learning environment for our son.”
Per WTKR News, Abigail was launched from the hospital earlier this week. Riverside Medical Center informed the outlet on Thursday that the trainer “continues her recovery as an outpatient with the support of family, friends, and health professionals,” and her “family respectfully asks for privacy during this time.” Meanwhile, nobody has been charged for the taking pictures because the investigation remains to be ongoing – however Police Chief Steve Drew famous to CNN This Morning that fees have been “certainly a possibility.”
We’re wishing Abigail a speedy restoration following this incident.
[Image via Abigail Zwerner/Facebook, 13News Now/YouTube]