The shooting was not accidental. The kid shot his teacher intentionally using the handgun of his mother, police say.
In a news conference Monday, Virginia police stated that the six-year-old student who shot his teacher, Abigail 'Abby' Zwerner, at his classroom in Richneck Elementary School, Newport News used his mother's handgun, which was legally purchased, BBC News reported.
Authorities said that the kid carried the gun in his backpack to school, and intentionally fired on his teacher during class Friday.
What other information should the public know
The authorities narrated that they received a call about a teacher being shot at around 14:00 local time (19:00 GMT) on Friday at Richneck Elementary School. When they arrived at the scene, they saw the six-year-old student being restrained by a school employee.
They also found a 9mm Taurus pistol near the student's desk, where his backpack, a mobile phone and one spent shell casing was also placed.
Police chief Steve Drew stated that the kid fired an intentional one round at his teacher, while she was giving a lesson.
Drew also said that they were able to speak to the teacher earlier on Monday and described her as a "trooper" and a "hero," adding that Zwerner kept on asking him about the well-being of her students who were in her classroom when the accident happened.
Zwerner received a shot through her hand and into her upper chest. Amazingly, she was still able to ensure her students' safety outside of the classroom before she made her way down to the office of the school administration, where she called for help.
The school was immediately placed under lockdown after the incident happened.
Lowanda Sample-Rusk was there to pick up her grandchildren, and she said she saw Zwerner appear in the school's front office's doorway. She called to her to say she had been shot and instructed her to call 911 before she fainted.
Another parent informed the Washington Post that the shooting happened after the Zwerner tried to confiscate the weapon from the six-year-old.
Read Also: Condition Improving for Virginia Teacher Shot by Six-Year-Old Child
Legal consequences of the kid
Chief Drew also stated that they were able to have a thorough interview with the child's mother and they confirmed that the pistol was legally bought and stored in their home.
The child, who remains to be unidentified, is still under custody and undergoing hospital evaluation. Authorities said that they will soon be seeking a temporary detention order.
According to CNN, It is still mind-boggling as to what legal consequences the kid may or may not face.
Associate professor at the University of Virginia School of Law, Andrew Block, expressed that "it is incredibly unlikely that it would lead to a successful prosecution," even if technically, it is possible for prosecutors in Virginia to file charges against a six-year-old kid.
Chief Drew emphasized that they will continue to investigate the incident and will conduct more interviews with local child services and other witnesses.
Zwerner is still in the hospital and is already in a stable condition.
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