The family of a 6-year-old boy who allegedly intentionally shot his teacher in a Virginia school is speaking out for the first time since the incident.
The 6-year-old has not been named publicly but is accused of showing up to school on Jan. 6 with a gun in his backpack and shooting his 25-year-old teacher Abigail Zwerner in an intentional act, according to police.
In a statement sent to PEOPLE Thursday via their attorney James Ellenson, the family claims the “firearm our son accessed was secured.”
“Our family has always been committed to responsible gun ownership and keeping firearms out of the reach of children,” the family’s statement said. “We have been cooperating with local and federal law enforcement to understand how this could have happened.”
According to the statement, the child “suffers from an acute disability and was under a care plan at the school that included his mother or father attending school with him and accompanying him to class every day. The week of the shooting was the first week when we were not in class with him. We will regret our absence on this day for the rest of our lives.”
The family said the child is continuing to receive care at a hospital.
They added their “heart goes out to our son’s teacher and we pray for her healing in the aftermath of such an unimaginable tragedy as she selflessly served our son and the children in the school.
School Shooting in Newport News, Virginia.Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot via AP
“She has worked diligently and compassionately to support our family as we sought the best education and learning environment for our son.”
Zwerner has been called a hero after she was able to get her students out of the classroom even after suffering a gunshot wound.
She was seriously injured but was released from the hospital earlier this week, according toWTKR News.
The first-grade Richneck Elementary teacher “continues her recovery as an outpatient with the support of family, friends, and health professionals. The Zwerner family respectfullyasks for privacy during this time,” Riverside Regional Medical Center told the news channel on Thursday.
Jay Paul/Getty
No one has been charged in the shooting, but on Tuesday, Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew toldCNN This Morningthatcharges were “certainly a possibility.” However, the investigation remains ongoing.
The school will remain closed next week, according toABC News.
For more information on safe firearm storage and the most effective ways to protect children from unsecured firearms, visitBeSMARTforkids.org.
source: people.com
