Ebony Parker Faces 8 Felony Counts as Jury Selection Opens in 2023 Teacher Shooting Trial
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 19
Ebony Parker Faces 8 Felony Counts as Jury Selection Opens in 2023 Teacher Shooting Trial
12 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 19
Jury selection began Monday in Newport News for former assistant principal Ebony Parker, who has pleaded not guilty to eight felony child neglect counts tied to the 2023 shooting of teacher Abby Zwerner.
Prosecutors say several school employees warned Parker that a 6-year-old student might have a loaded gun, but she failed to act before the child shot Zwerner in her first-grade classroom.
The eight counts match the eight bullets loaded in the gun, and Parker could face up to five years in prison on each count if convicted.
Zwerner, who was hospitalized nearly two weeks and underwent six surgeries after the bullet narrowly missed her heart, is expected to testify; Parker's defense says she is being blamed for broader school failures.
The criminal case follows a November 2025 civil verdict that awarded Zwerner $10 million, while the student's mother was previously sentenced to nearly four years in prison.
First parents, now principals. Who is next to be held criminally responsible for school shootings?
Can jailing one school administrator for a student's actions truly prevent the next school shooting?
After a $10 million civil verdict, can prosecutors prove criminal 'reckless disregard' beyond a reasonable doubt?
From Civil Damages to Criminal Charges: The Legal Fallout of the Richneck Elementary School Shooting and the Trial of Ebony Parker
Overview
The criminal trial of Ebony Parker, former assistant principal at Richneck Elementary, began on May 18, 2026, following serious allegations related to the January 2023 school shooting. Parker faces eight felony counts of child neglect, each tied to the bullets that endangered students when teacher Abby Zwerner was shot by a 6-year-old student. After being released on bond in 2024, Parker became the focus of both criminal and civil cases. Zwerner, who was injured in the incident, filed a $40 million lawsuit accusing Parker and the school of ignoring warnings and failing to prevent the tragedy.