Bodycam Footage Reveals Defiance of 6-Year-Old After 2023 Virginia Teacher Shooting

Key points

• Bodycam footage released this week shows a 6-year-old boy cursing at officers and stating 'I don't care if I go to jail' after shooting teacher Abby Zwerner on Jan. 6, 2023, at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Va.
• The video shows reading specialist Amy Kovac holding the child as he shouted profanities, admitting he took the gun from his mother's purse by climbing onto a dresser.
• Zwerner was shot in the hand and chest; a doctor testified that removing the bullet would be too dangerous, and she testified that she thought she was dying.
• A Virginia jury awarded Zwerner $10 million in November 2025, finding that former assistant principal Ebony Parker's gross negligence in ignoring warnings about the gun led to the incident.
• The boy's mother, Deja Taylor, was sentenced to nearly four years in prison for felony child neglect and federal weapons charges, while the boy was not criminally charged due to his age.

Background

This incident occurred at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, on January 6, 2023. The shooting of teacher Abby Zwerner led to a civil lawsuit against former assistant principal Ebony Parker, which resulted in a $10 million verdict in November 2025. A criminal case against Parker was dismissed in May 2026. The boy's mother, Deja Taylor, was sentenced to nearly four years in prison for child neglect and weapons charges. The bodycam footage was initially sealed during Parker's criminal trial but was released after a judge ordered the child's face to be blurred.

How outlets are covering it

WBAL and NBC News both report on the release of bodycam footage showing the 6-year-old's defiant behavior after the shooting, with NBC News emphasizing the child's cursing and admission of stealing the gun. WXLV focuses on the child's admission of taking the gun from his mother. All sources agree on the basic facts of the shooting, the civil lawsuit outcome, and the mother's sentencing, but differ in their emphasis on the child's behavior and the legal proceedings. The archive articles provide background on the civil lawsuit and the mother's sentencing, but do not cover the bodycam footage release.

Why it matters

The release of bodycam footage provides a rare glimpse into the immediate aftermath of a school shooting involving a young child, highlighting the complex legal and emotional issues surrounding child perpetrators and school safety. The civil lawsuit outcome underscores the potential liability of school officials for negligence in handling safety concerns, while the mother's sentencing reflects the legal consequences of failing to secure a firearm. The footage also raises questions about the treatment of young children involved in violent incidents and the balance between public interest and privacy.

What to watch

There are no immediate next steps mentioned in the sources. The civil lawsuit has concluded with a $10 million verdict, and the criminal case against the former assistant principal has been dismissed. The mother has been sentenced, and the boy was not criminally charged. The release of the bodycam footage may lead to further public discussion about school safety and the handling of incidents involving young children.