A young student studying at the Virginia school where a six-year-old boy shot his teacher in the chest with a gun has spoken of the moment he heard gunfire that sent his class into hiding.
Mark Garcia Jr., eight years old and in the second grade, said his teacher heard the gunshots from the hallway and immediately told the class to stay quiet if a gunman was on the scene.
“When it happened, the first grade teacher heard it. We went back to our room and when we got there we all stayed quiet.’
Garcia Jr. told CNN that he managed to stay calm and even tried to comfort those around him.
Mark Garcia Jr., an eight-year-old student at Richneck Elementary School in Virginia, has shared his experience of the shooting that took place at the school last week
“Two people cried. I went to help them. When the cops came, we were marched to the gym and then we were all safe.
Mark’s father, Mark Anthony Garcia, said that when he found out about the shooting he rushed to school.
“There were police helicopters everywhere outside, traffic was backed up. Then there was a two-mile radius cordoned off by parked cars and people trying to actually get to the crime scene.
Richneck Elementary School will remain closed this week as the school and community continue to discuss ways to address the crisis.
Garcia said local parents had raised concerns before the incident.
“We’ve spoken to the principal, we’ve spoken to the careers adviser, we’ve gone to town hall meetings, we’ve spoken about Zooms, what else are we supposed to do?” he said.
A veteran, Garcia said several security measures failed at the school, including metal detectors, which he says the school only has one in the library.
Mark’s father, Mark Anthony Garcia Sr., dropped out of school and said when he found out about the shooting he ran to school
Teacher Abby Zwerner, 25, is stable after Friday’s life-threatening attack. She was shot point-blank, and the bullet went through her hand and into her chest
It emerged early Monday how the boy responsible for his teacher’s shooting stole his mother’s gun from her home before putting it in his backpack and taking it to class.
She had bought it legally in York County and was kept at her home. It is not known why the firearm was not under lock and key.
The Richneck Elementary School student, who is not named, is currently in a medical facility where professionals are continuing to provide psychological evaluations.
Teacher Abby Zwerner, 25, is stable after Friday’s life-threatening attack. She was shot point-blank as the bullet went through her hand and into her chest.
She was giving her class in the first grade when the kid pulled the gun out of his backpack and shot her. Police have confirmed that the attack was premeditated and not accidental.
Zwerner was “lecturing in class when a six-year-old kid showed a gun, pointed it at her, and fired a round,” Chief Drew said at a news conference. “There was no physical fight or fight.”
Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew said Monday afternoon that more facts needed to be gathered before the department could decide whether to press charges against the boy’s mother.
Mark Garcia Jr., a second grader, described how his teacher heard the gunshots and quickly got the class to keep quiet and hide
Zwerner was shot and killed around 2 p.m. Friday at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News
Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew said at a news conference that the child fired a bullet that went through the teacher’s hand and then his chest
Drew also revealed that Zwerner made sure all the kids in her class were safe and out of the room before attempting to get help for herself.
He said the teacher’s first question when he visited her was, “Do you know how my students are doing?”
The six-year-old “fighty” boy was physically arrested by another school worker, whom he then met, after the horrific shooting, police confirmed.
When officers arrived at the scene, the child was placed in a police car and later questioned along with his mother.
The six-year-old “fearful” boy was arrested after the shooting by another school worker – whom he then beat, police confirmed
The teacher was hailed as a hero in the local community
Police have not released any details about the child or his parents but said further questioning and investigations are ongoing.
The six-year-old will appear before a judge in the coming days.
“It’s very difficult to process,” Newport News Mayor Philip Jones said Sunday. “The fact that we have a six-year-old who is able to bring a gun into school and harm his teacher – something we’re still struggling with.
“There are many questions that we as a community need to answer,” the mayor added. “Stop how a 6-year-old was able to have a gun, knowing how to use it so consciously… Those responsible will be held accountable. I can promise.’
Meanwhile, a grandparent of a student at the school claimed that in the week before the attack, a child had brought “shiny gold bullets” and told his class and teacher that he was considering bringing a gun.
It is not clear if the student described by the grandparents is the same one who shot Zwerner.
Speaking to , the grandmother said: “Parents outside said their child has told them a child has been bringing shiny gold bullets to school and is thinking of bringing his gun. The student informed the parents, who informed the school.
“And the school got back to the parents just yesterday and said the kid’s parents said it was a nerf bullet and the parents said nerf bullets aren’t shiny and gold.”
Zwerner was reportedly attempting to confiscate the young child’s gun when he shot her. Police said they are working to find out why he shot his teacher.
dr James Fedderman, president of the Virginia Education Association, said the problem will only get worse if students’ mental health needs are not met soon.
“We’re going to see an increase in crime in our schools and we really need to take the reins and do something about it,” he said, adding that schools currently don’t have the capacity to respond to the “social address our students’ emotional needs.’
Lawonda Sample-Rusk, a grandmother who was at school early Friday to pick up her two grandchildren, helped to help the wounded Zwerner.
Rusk told local news agency WKTR that she heard Zwerner scream, “I’m shot, I’m shot. Call 911.’
She and the school’s receptionist first thought Rusk was only injured in the hand, but then she “passed out on the floor.”
Richneck Elementary School will remain closed this week as administrative leaders continue to consider how students can overcome the trauma experienced on Friday
Lawonda Sample-Rusk told a local outlet how she reacted to the shooting of 25-year-old teacher Abby Zwerner
Rusk and the receptionist stayed with Zwerner and helped put pressure on the wound while other administration officials herded young students to designated safe zones.
Friday’s horrifying incident led Rusk to the region’s second annual Stop the Violence rally.
Concerned residents, community activists and city leaders came together to share concerns about the safety of the community following the shooting.
The police have so far refused to comment on further contacts with Zwerner.