2026-10-08 07:43:47Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

New footage from police body cameras has revealed the first moments after the serious incident at an elementary school in Virginia, USA, where a 6-year-old student shot his teacher.

The video, kept secret for more than three years, was made public after a court order and shows the chaos inside the classroom immediately after the January 6, 2023, shooting at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News.

In the nearly three-minute footage, recorded by Officer Brian Torrez's body camera, officers enter the classroom and find the 6-year-old being held by reading specialist Amy Kovac. Teacher Abby Zwerner and other students had already left the classroom.

Kovac tells officers that the gun was still in the classroom, and one of the officers locates the pistol on the floor, a few feet away from the child. Investigation reveals that it was a 9mm pistol with more rounds still inside.

The footage also captures the 6-year-old's unusual reaction, as he curses at school staff and police officers. At one point, he admits that he got the gun from his mother and declares that he doesn't care if he ends up in jail.

The incident occurred during class when the child pulled out a gun and shot Abby Zwerner. The bullet went through the teacher's hand and hit her in the chest, causing serious injuries. Despite her condition, Zwerner managed to get the students out of the classroom before receiving medical attention.

The case sparked a major controversy in the US, especially after it emerged that school staff had raised concerns earlier in the day that the child might have a gun. Zwerner subsequently filed a civil lawsuit, claiming that warnings were not taken seriously. In November 2025, a jury awarded her $10 million in damages, after finding the school's former vice principal, Ebony Parker, liable for gross negligence.

The body camera footage had previously been used as evidence in court proceedings, and its release was allowed after The Virginian-Pilot and the Daily Press sought to have the order keeping it sealed lifted. In the version released, the child's face is covered.

 


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