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Richneck Elementary School shooting bodycam footage unsealed
Newly unsealed body-camera footage from the Newport News Police Department has been released, showing the immediate aftermath of the January 2023 shooting at Richneck Elementary School in Virginia.
The video, recorded by Officer Brian Torrez, captures a six-year-old boy, identified in court records as J. T., being restrained in a classroom by reading specialist Amy Kovac. During the recording, the child is heard using profanities and issuing verbal threats toward Kovac and responding officers. The boy admitted to taking a 9mm Taurus handgun from his mother.
The shooting targeted first-grade teacher Abigail Zwerner, who sustained injuries to her hand and chest, including a punctured lung and broken bones. Zwerner later won a $10 million civil judgment in a gross negligence lawsuit.
The boy's mother, Deja Taylor, was previously sentenced to prison for felony child neglect and firearm-related charges. The footage was released by a judge on the condition that the child's face remains blurred to protect his identity.
Entities
Abby Zwerner · Abigail Zwerner · Amy Kovac · Brian Torrez · Deja Taylor · Newport News Police Department · Richneck Elementary · Richneck Elementary School
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 10 SOURCES] Abigail Zwerner was shot in the hand and chest, resulting in a punctured lung and broken bones. internewscast.com · lawandorder.gr · balleralert.com · www.ibtimes.co.uk · www.wnd.com · +5 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] A judge ordered the unsealing of the body-camera footage on the condition that the child's face remains blurred. balleralert.com · www.ibtimes.co.uk
- [● 10 SOURCES] Reading specialist Amy Kovac restrained the child and held him in a bear hug until officers arrived. internewscast.com · lawandorder.gr · balleralert.com · dailycaller.com · www.ibtimes.co.uk · +5 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] A jury awarded teacher Abigail Zwerner $10 million in a civil case. balleralert.com · www.ladbible.com · www.wnd.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Newport News Police Department released body-camera footage of the 2023 Richneck Elementary School shooting. internewscast.com · dailycaller.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] The boy's mother, Deja Taylor, was sentenced to prison for felony child neglect and firearm-related charges. lawandorder.gr · balleralert.com · www.ilialive.gr · www.rthess.gr · www.kemifilani.ng
- [● 10 SOURCES] The six-year-old boy stated he took the 9mm handgun from his mother. internewscast.com · lawandorder.gr · balleralert.com · dailycaller.com · www.ibtimes.co.uk · +5 more
- [● 10 SOURCES] Body-camera footage recorded by Officer Brian Torrez shows the immediate aftermath of the shooting. internewscast.com · balleralert.com · dailycaller.com · www.ibtimes.co.uk · www.ladbible.com · +5 more