A Virginia teacher who was shot by a six-year-old student has spoken out for the first time about the harrowing incident and her recovery journey.
On January 6, 25-year-old Abby Zwerner was teaching at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, when one of her students allegedly aimed a firearm at her.
After alerting the other students in her class to run and take cover in another classroom, Zwerner tried to take the weapon away from the kid, who ended up shooting her at around 2:00PM, according to the New York Post.
Fortunately, the shooting was not fatal, and Zwerner was soon reported as being in a severe but stable condition at Riverside Regional Medical Center.
Following the incident, the child was taken into custody and Police Chief Steve Drew disclosed in a press conference that the shooting allegedly arose from a fight and was "not an accidental shooting," the Washington Post reported.
As stated by the outlet, Zwerner was shot both through the abdomen and the hand. Law enforcement also noted that it was unclear how the child came into possession of the firearm.
Now, the first-grade teacher spoke with Today's Savannah Guthrie in her first interview since the shooting incident, and it is set to air on Tuesday (March 21).
Watch an exclusive clip of Zwerner's interview below:In an exclusive clip of the interview, Zwerner said to the host: "I've been doing okay. It's been challenging. I've gone through a lot of obstacles and challenges."
"Some days are not-so-good days, where I can't get up out of bed. Some days are better than others, where I'm able to get out of bed and make it to my appointments," she said, with her left hand bandaged after a recent fourth surgery to help a bone that was severely injured.
She said that her physical scars are recovering - including damage on the side of her body where medics put a chest tube after her lung collapsed - and insisted that she will stay optimistic.
"But for going through what I've gone through, I try to stay positive. You know, try to have a positive outlook on what's happened and where my future's heading," she added.
The teacher also revealed in an interview with NBC News that she still doesn't have the full function of her left hand due to her sustained injuries, making straightforward tasks such as making a fist, getting dressed, and opening a water bottle challenging.
She also informed the publication that her doctors are uncertain about whether she will be able to use her hand like before, adding: "Physical therapy is not only physically exhausting but mentally exhausting as well."
"I'm supposed to be moving them once every hour, throughout the hour," she said of her fingers, "just manipulating them to get that blood flowing and to get that movement back into the hand."
The child - whose family said has an acute disability - won’t face charges, the Newport News Commonwealth’s Attorney Howard Gwynn told the outlet earlier this month.
A lawyer for his family also told the publication that they "welcomed the prosecutor’s decision and continue to pray for Ms. Zwerner’s complete recovery".
However, the parents could still face legal repercussions if the evidence demonstrates that the handgun was not secured when their son brought it to the school. They have contended that it was legally purchased, secured on a top shelf in the mother’s closet, and had a trigger lock.
Zwerner's lawyer previously claimed that the boy has a history of misbehaving that was repeatedly reported to administrators. Two days before he allegedly shot her, he broke her phone down and got a one-day suspension, per The New York Post.
