Virginia grand jury indicts mother of six-year-old who shot teacher in class

A Virginia grand jury on Monday indicted the mother of a six-year-old who shot an elementary school teacher in Newport News in January, charging her with crimes related to felony child neglect and firearms possession.

Zwerner last week filed a $40m negligence lawsuit against school district officials.

The lawsuit named as defendants the Newport News school board, the former superintendent George Parker III, the ex-Richneck elementary school principal Briana Foster Newton and the former assistant principal Ebony Parker.

The shooting happened as Zwerner was sitting at a reading table when she was shot in the hand and chest.

She led her students to safety before being taken to hospital, where she stayed for two weeks and through four surgical procedures.

Prosecutors had said the boy, who has not been publicly identified, would not face criminal charges.

George Parker III, the superintendent, was fired after the shooting. Ebony Parker, the assistant principal, resigned.

The family also said the boy has a severe disability and has received mental health treatment.