Family of 6-year-old boy who shot his teacher makes first statement claiming boy has ‘acute disability’

The family of the 6-year-old boy who shot his teacher has issued their first public statement saying he suffers from an “acute disability.”

The boy was a student at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, when he shot 25-year-old Abby Zwerner, his first-grade teacher, on January 6. She was immediately hospitalized and treated for a gunshot wound to the chest.

On Thursday, the family released a statement through the office of attorney James S. Ellenson.

“Our family has always been committed to responsible gun ownership and keeping firearms out of the reach of children,” the statement said. “The firearm that our son accessed was secured.”

The 9mm handgun used in the shooting was registered to the boy’s mother, who could face charges, according to law enforcement.

The family said the boy had an “acute disability” and “was under a school care plan that included his mother or father going to school with him and walking him to class every day “.

They also said that neither mother nor father accompanied their son to school that week.

“We will regret our absence on this day for the rest of our lives,” they add.

Ellenson told the Associated Press that the family would attend classes with the boy “on occasion,” but that the school and parents made a “joint decision” that the situation was “no longer necessary.”

Police said the boy’s mother legally purchased the gun, but it is a felony in the state of Virginia to leave a gun where it is accessible to a child under 14.

Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew said they are not rushing to file charges against the parents, but are continuing the investigation.

“This is an unprecedented incident that we have had in our city, where a 6-year-old boy obtained a firearm, brought it to school, pointed it, fired and shot his teacher in front of ‘other students,” said Head Drew. “I have a young teacher who suffered a gunshot wound while teaching her class. By the grace of God, he is still with us today.”

On Thursday, the hospital where Zwerner was treated said she had been released to continue her recovery treatment at home.

Here is more information about the family statement:

Parents of 6-year-old boy accused of shooting Virginia first-grade teacher stop www.youtube.com

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