Bodycam footage released: 6-year-old taunts police after 2023 Virginia school shooting

Key points

• Body-camera footage from the January 6, 2023, shooting at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, has been released after a court unsealed it.
• The video shows a 6-year-old boy, identified in court as J.T., cursing at police and a teacher while being restrained after shooting teacher Abby Zwerner.
• The child admitted to stealing the 9mm handgun from his mother's purse and placing it in his backpack before bringing it to school.
• Teacher Abby Zwerner was shot in the hand and chest; a doctor testified that removing the bullet would be too dangerous, and she later won a $10 million civil judgment against the school's former assistant principal.
• The boy's mother, Deja Taylor, was imprisoned for child neglect and weapons violations, while the former assistant principal, Ebony Parker, had criminal charges dismissed.

Background

This incident occurred on January 6, 2023, at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia. The boy, then 6, shot teacher Abby Zwerner during a reading class. The mother, Deja Taylor, was arrested and later sentenced to prison for child neglect and federal weapons charges. The former assistant principal, Ebony Parker, faced criminal charges for child neglect but had the case dismissed in May 2026. Zwerner won a $10 million civil judgment against Parker in 2025. The bodycam footage was initially sealed during Parker's criminal trial but was unsealed in July 2026 after a First Amendment motion by local news outlets.

How outlets are covering it

NBC News and The Virginian-Pilot both report on the release of the bodycam footage, emphasizing the child's defiant behavior and the legal battles over its release. KBOI also covers the story, focusing on the child's admission to taking the gun. The Virginian-Pilot provides additional details on the court's decision to unseal the video and the editorial decision to publish it, noting the child's face was blurred. All sources agree on the core facts of the shooting and the subsequent legal proceedings.

Why it matters

The release of the bodycam footage highlights the legal and ethical debates surrounding the publication of violent content involving minors. It also underscores the ongoing consequences of the 2023 shooting, including the civil and criminal cases against school staff and the mother. The footage provides a raw look at the aftermath of a school shooting, raising questions about child safety and the responsibilities of educators and parents.

What to watch

The boy, now 9 or 10, is in the custody of his great-grandfather. The legal battles surrounding the shooting and the release of the footage may continue to have implications for the community and the broader discourse on school safety and child welfare.