A teacher who was shot by a 6-year-old student in the US state of Virginia filed a lawsuit against his school for $40 million.
Abigail Zwerner, 25, accuses the school of “grave negligence” and “ignoring warnings”.
The case alleges that the school administration knew the student had a “history of violence”.
Zwerner, who was shot on January 6, was wounded in the chest and hand. She stayed in the hospital for 2 weeks and had 4 surgeries.
The incident took place at Richneck Elementary School in the town of Newport News, a town of 180,000 in northwest Virginia. It is stated that the boy brought the gun to school in his backpack.
According to eyewitnesses, when the unnamed boy started shooting, Zwerner first tried to protect the other students and then sought help.
“She’s a horseman. She’s a hero,” Police Chief Steve Drew said of Zwermer after the incident.
According to police officials, the boy’s gun belonged to his mother. It was determined that the weapon was obtained through legal means.
After the incident, metal detectors were installed in the school where 550 students were educated.
The principal of the school was dismissed, the vice principal resigned. However, no action was taken against the child or any other person regarding the attack.
The lawsuit states that the boy tried to strangle his teacher at kindergarten last year by sticking him in his throat.
It was alleged that the same boy chased other children at school with a belt and cursed.
Two days before the incident, it was stated that while Zwermer was reading something at the table, the boy’s teacher took his phone and smashed it on the floor.
Due to this incident, the child was given a one-day suspension.
His parents say the boy is “acutely disabled” and rarely attends school without one of his parents.
In the lawsuit, it is emphasized that the child’s aggressive behavior, who attacked both teachers and students, is not limited to the school.
The school administration has not yet made a statement regarding the compensation case.