By BEN FINLEY and DENISE LAVOIE
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) — The Virginia elementary college the place a 6-year-old boy shot his trainer reopened Monday with stepped-up safety and a brand new administrator, as nervous dad and mom and college students expressed optimism a couple of return to the classroom.
Richneck Elementary School in Newport News opened its doorways greater than three weeks after the Jan. 6 taking pictures. Police have mentioned the boy introduced a 9 mm handgun to high school and deliberately shot his trainer, Abby Zwerner, as she was instructing her first-grade class. Zwerner, 25, was hospitalized for almost two weeks however is now recovering at house.
Several police vehicles have been parked on the college as academics arrived.
The sign up entrance of the constructing learn “Richneck Strong” and was framed by two pink hearts. Other indicators alongside the sidewalks learn, “We are praying for you,” “You are loved” and “We believe in you.”
Students have been greeted by a line of law enforcement officials, Mayor Phillip Jones, and different adults who gave them high-fives as they walked into the college.
Jennifer Roe and her fourth-grade son, Jethro, have been among the many first to reach. She mentioned they noticed a therapist after the taking pictures.
“He’s excited to get back to school. He’s missed it. He was ready to go back the Monday after (the shooting). He’s very resilient,” Roe mentioned.
“There are concerns, of course,” she mentioned. “We talked through it. His therapist gave me a thumbs-up and said he’s good.”
Jethro mentioned he nonetheless had some concern “it might happen again,” however that the elevated safety make him really feel higher.
“I’m still a little nervous, but I’ve calmed down a lot,” he mentioned. “I’m also happy (to return to school).”
Melissa McBride, who introduced her fourth-grade twins to high school, mentioned one in all them wasn’t sleeping that properly after the taking pictures. She mentioned they felt higher after attending an open home on the college final week.
“They saw the metal detectors and that was a comfort,” she mentioned. “It was a calm atmosphere. It was huge to see their friends and everybody being happy.”
McBride mentioned she was comforted when she noticed the twins “going into school with no hesitation,” however that she was nonetheless “a little nervous.”
Many dad and mom walked their youngsters into the college, however Jordan Vestre mentioned his third-grade son, Jaxon, requested if he may stroll in alone. Vestre mentioned he gave Jaxon a hug and “stood back a little teary-eyed and watched him high-five all the police officers and the mayor.”
Vestre mentioned he and his son have come a good distance because the day of the taking pictures, when Vestre received an alert on his cellphone whereas he was on the grocery retailer. When Jaxon reunited together with his household that day, “We were a mess,” Vestre mentioned.
Vestre mentioned his son “fully understands what happened.” But he added: “How do you talk to an 8-year-old about a school shooting? It’s ridiculous.”
Eve Parham mentioned her fourth-grade granddaughter was very excited to get again to high school, notably to her archery class. Parham praised the assorted security measures which were put in place, together with the deliberate distribution of clear backpacks to college students.
There have been two different shootings in Newport News faculties within the 16 months earlier than the taking pictures. In September 2021, two 17-year-old college students have been wounded when a 15-year-old boy fired pictures in a crowded highschool hallway. Two months later, an 18-year-old scholar fatally shot a 17-year-old within the car parking zone of a unique highschool.
“Unfortunately, the teacher had to be our sacrificial lamb to bring this to light,” Parham mentioned, referring to Zwerner. “I applaud her. And I’m grateful that she’s okay and that it caused this reaction. I think it’ll help all the schools in the city of Newport News.”
The college board chair, Lisa Surles-Law, mentioned roses have been handed out to the scholars and remedy canine have been made accessible to all first-grade college students.
Zwerner’s classroom, the place the taking pictures happened, remained closed. Surles-Law mentioned Zwerner’s college students might be taught in one other classroom that has been painted and made to look welcoming.
“I walked the building a little while ago, and (the teachers) are very excited to welcome their students back,” she mentioned.
The taking pictures despatched shockwaves by way of Newport News, a metropolis of about 185,000 that’s recognized for its shipbuilding trade. It has additionally raised questions on college safety and the way a baby so younger may achieve entry to a gun and shoot his trainer.
At Richneck, two metallic detection methods have been put in and two safety officers have been assigned to the college, mentioned Michelle Price, a spokesperson for the college district. Before the taking pictures, one safety officer was assigned to Richneck and one other elementary college. The officer was not at Richneck on the time of the taking pictures.
The safety officers will even have a metallic detector wand. New doorways have been put in in classroom areas that didn’t have any, whereas different doorways have been repaired or changed, Price mentioned.
The principal and assistant principal each left their jobs after the taking pictures, and a brand new administrator has been appointed to steer the college.
Superintendent George Parker, who was sharply criticized by dad and mom and academics after the taking pictures, was fired by the college board final week. Parker has mentioned that no less than one college administrator acquired a tip that the boy might have introduced a weapon to high school. He mentioned the boy’s backpack was searched, however no weapon was discovered.
Zwerner’s lawyer, Diane Toscano, mentioned that on the day of the taking pictures, involved employees at Richneck warned directors 3 times that the boy had a gun and was threatening different college students, however the administration didn’t name police, take away the boy from class or lock down the college.
Police mentioned the handgun was legally bought by the boy’s mom. In an announcement launched by way of their legal professional, the boy’s household mentioned the gun was “secured.” Attorney James Ellenson instructed The Associated Press that his understanding is that the gun was within the mom’s closet on a shelf properly over 6 toes (1.8 meters) excessive and had a set off lock that required a key.
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Lavoie reported from Richmond.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”
