Crime House Daily – Night Watch: She Was Shot by One of Her Students & Sued: Abby Zwerner Case

Date: December 2, 2025
Host: Katie Ring
Main Theme:
This episode of Crime House Daily’s Night Watch dives deep into the harrowing case of Abby Zwerner, a Virginia first-grade teacher who was shot by her six-year-old student, JT. The episode unpacks the shocking events leading to the shooting, the aftermath, repeated institutional failures, and the ongoing legal battles—including the historic $10 million civil verdict and imminent criminal trial against school administrators.

Episode Overview

Katie Ring details the full story of Abby Zwerner’s shooting in January 2023 at Richneck Elementary School, its systemic failures, the backgrounds of all involved, and the legal reckoning following the tragedy. The episode highlights how multiple warnings went unheeded, leading to devastating consequences, and offers insight into the criminal responsibility now being determined by the courts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Shooting: Timeline and Institutional Failures

• Background on Abby Zwerner:
  Abby (then 25) had a passion for teaching, inspired by her mother, and went above and beyond in her work.

  “She often stayed up late lesson planning and put a lot of thought into the way her classroom was organized and decorated.” (04:20)

• School Safety Lapses:
  The school was lax with safety protocols:
  • No lockdown drills in two years
  • Broken buzzer system meant no secure entry
  • School was open-concept with some classrooms lacking doors
• Profile of the Student, JT:
  • Age 6, significant behavioral and academic challenges
  • Documented history of aggression (swearing, kicking, spitting, attempted strangling)
  • Had to be accompanied by a parent at school, a measure later lifted

The Day of the Shooting (January 6, 2023)

• JT Brings Gun to School:
  • JT stole his mother’s loaded 9mm handgun from her purse
  • Told classmates he had a gun; they informed teachers
• Repeatedly Ignored Warnings:
  • Abby and other staff alerted Assistant Principal Dr. Ebony Parker, who brushed off concerns

  “She [Dr. Parker] literally gave her the silent treatment and wouldn’t even look up from her computer to make eye contact.” (12:00)

  • Reading specialist Amy Kovac confronted JT; he refused to let his bag be searched
  • Other staff (teachers, music teacher, guidance counselor) pleaded for action with Dr. Parker, who insisted it could wait for parent arrival
• Critical moment:
  • At 2PM, JT shot Abby; bullet broke through her left hand and into her chest, narrowly missing her heart

  “Despite just being shot, Abby rushed the other students out of the classroom to safety.” (15:16)

Immediate Aftermath

• School Leadership Stunned
  • Principal locked herself in an office
  • Staff and a student’s grandmother rendered first aid; delay for paramedics due to malfunctioning buzzer
• JT’s Reaction:
  • Punched Ms. Kovac when police arrived; admitted to shooting his teacher
• Medical Consequences for Abby:
  • Underwent six surgeries, left hand permanently impaired, suffers PTSD

Community & Institutional Response

• Sweeping Accountability:
  • Superintendent fired, Principal reassigned, Dr. Parker resigned
• Building Changes:
  • Open-concept classrooms renovated with doors
  • Metal detectors installed
  • Therapy dogs in all first-grade classrooms
  • Emphasis on restoring a sense of safety for returning students

Legal Fallout: Civil and Criminal Cases

• Charges for Deja Taylor (JT’s mother):

  • Unlawful user of marijuana in possession of a firearm
  • Lying on federal background check
  • Sentenced to nearly four years (after two separate convictions for gun and child neglect charges)
  • JT was placed with his great-grandfather, reportedly thriving in a new environment

• Abby Zwerner’s Lawsuits:

  • Civil suit vs. School District for $40 million—district counterclaimed, saying it’s a "worker's comp injury"
  • Civil suit vs. Dr. Parker (Assistant Principal)—focused on gross negligence
    • Jury found Parker grossly negligent; Abby awarded $10 million (46:10)

• Quotes from Civil Trial:

  “My life and once cherished career have been completely turned upside down. I feel as if I have lost my purpose. I loved children and now am scared to have a job involving them.” (Abby Zwerner’s testimony, 41:45) “No one is the sole person responsible for school safety.”
  (Education admin expert Amy Klinger, defending Dr. Parker, 44:10)

• Criminal Trial

  • Dr. Parker faces eight counts of felony child neglect (one for each bullet in the gun), each carrying up to five years in prison (47:42)
  • Ongoing investigation into a possible cover-up regarding missing behavioral records for JT

    “The file that was in Abby’s classroom has never been found, and some believe it was taken from her classroom right after she was shot.” (49:40) “The grand jury called her [school leadership director’s] testimony ‘highly suspicious.’” (49:17)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the systemic failure:

  “If someone told me he had a gun in his backpack, I’m not asking for permission to search it. I am snatching that bag because people’s lives are on the line.” (12:52, Katie Ring)

• Abby’s heroism:

  “Despite just being shot, Abby rushed the other students out of the classroom to safety.” (15:16)

• Abby’s trauma and loss:

  “I loved children and now am scared to have a job involving them.” (Abby Zwerner, 41:45)

• Defense’s rationale:

  “No one is the sole person responsible for school safety.” (amy Klinger, defense expert, 44:10)

• On the missing records:

  “The file that was in Abby’s classroom has never been found, and some believe it was taken from her classroom right after she was shot.” (49:40)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 02:10 – Case intro: The shooting and failures in response
• 04:20 – Abby Zwerner’s background, dedication as a teacher
• 06:25 – Breakdown of JT’s behavioral and home life issues
• 09:40 – Turbulence in JT’s family, mother’s criminal behavior
• 12:00 – Teachers' warnings and Dr. Parker’s repeated dismissals
• 15:16 – The shooting, immediate aftermath, Abby’s actions, and medical response
• 19:36 – Consequences for school leadership; physical updates to the school
• 21:15 – Legal proceedings begin: Charges against JT’s mother
• 41:45 – Abby’s trauma shared in her testimony
• 44:10 – Defense attempts to refute the extent of Abby’s suffering; expert testimony
• 46:10 – Civil trial verdict and damages awarded to Abby
• 47:42 – Details on Dr. Parker’s upcoming criminal trial
• 49:17 – Grand jury investigation into possible coverup and missing student records
• 49:40 – Suspicion over removal of critical behavioral files

Takeaways and Continuing Developments

• The case spotlights egregious safety failures and the severe consequences of institutional inaction in schools.
• Abby’s resilience, trauma, and the legal battles highlight broader systemic issues beyond this single tragedy.
• A criminal trial against Dr. Parker is imminent, and investigations into possible cover-ups are ongoing; more revelations are expected.

Final Thoughts from the Host

• Katie Ring:

  “What did you think of tonight’s case? Drop your thoughts and theories in the comments… Because the pursuit of justice never stops.” (End)

This episode is a sobering account of how warnings can go unheeded and that true justice and change require persistent accountability. Crime House Daily will continue to follow the Abby Zwerner case as it develops.