Judge dismisses charges against [Virginia] school official accused of ignoring warnings of gun before shooting

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: CNN, via WTOP

Judge dismisses charges against school official accused of ignoring warnings of gun before shooting

CNN
May 21, 2026, 10:26 AM

(CNN) — A Virginia circuit court judge on Thursday dismissed criminal charges against Ebony Parker, the former assistant principal accused of ignoring warnings that a 6-year-old child had a gun, after the defense argued the prosecution had not made its case.

“The court is of the legal opinion that this is not a crime,” Circuit Court Judge Rebecca Robinson said. ... Parker put her head down on the defendant’s table and appeared to be sobbing.

The charges stem from the January 2023 shooting at Richneck Elementary School in Virginia in which the child shot and wounded his first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner. She survived.

Parker had pleaded not guilty to eight counts of felony child abuse and disregard for life – one for each bullet in the child’s gun. The charges alleged she committed “a willful act or omission in the care of such students, in a manner so gross, wanton and culpable as to show a reckless disregard for human life,” according to court documents.

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Read more: https://wtop.com/virginia/2026/05/judge-dismisses-charges-against-school-official-accused-of-ignoring-warnings-of-gun-before-shooting/

[Chasstev365]

1. Crap ruling

Her ignoring the warnings of a troubled young student cost the young teacher dearly.

[Miguelito Loveless]

2. File a civil action

Yet another example how something can be "legal" yet highly immoral.

[AZJonnie]

3. Trying to charge 1 count for each bullet in the gun may be where the case went awry

I've never heard of criminal charges being done like that (tho it may have happened before and I just didn't know)

I don't know enough about the case to know whether this is a good or bad ruling, though I recall the shooting.

[Ray Bruns]

4. I think legally it's the correct ruling. It's just the whole situation is FUBAR.

[WinstonSmith4740]

5. I can only speak for the laws in Nevada.

But teachers, admins, etc. are "mandated reporters". When we have knowledge of any kind of shit (guns at school, kids being abused, being bullied, etc.), we HAVE to tell the proper authorities. There's no excuse here, it could cost us our job if we don't. How ANY school employee could ignore knowing a student had a gun at school today is beyond me.