The six-year-old boy who shot his first-grade teacher had previously expressed hatred for another teacher whom he threatened, according to a New York Post report.
The child reportedly wrote a note to another female teacher in his school before the shooting incident. In the note, the boy informed the teacher he hated her and wanted to kill her by setting her on fire, according to a report from The Washington Post.
When the teacher alerted Richneck Elementary School administrators about the letter, she was told to drop it, according to the Washington Post report.
The boy earlier this month shot his first grade teacher, Abigail Zwerner, during class in the Newport News., Virginia, school, according to police. Zwerner survived, police added.
Zwerner repeatedly asked administrators for help with the boy who was known to throw chairs in the classroom, according to the Washington Post report. School officials reportedly dismissed accounts of his disturbing behavior.
The report added that educators conducted an online chat soon after the shooting with Superintendent of Schools George Parker III. Screen captures of the conversation were reportedly provided to the Post by a teacher at the school on the condition she be granted anonymity to prevent retaliation.
Teachers claimed in the chat session that Zwerner repeatedly raised alarms about the shooter and asked for help dealing with him during the school year.
“She had asked for help,” one staffer wrote in that chat, referring to Zwerner, according to the report.
“Several times,” came another message.
“Yes she did.”
“Two hours prior.”
“All year.”
A different teacher reportedly told the Post that school administrators ignored grave concerns about the 6-year-old’s conduct, claiming the school was not equipped to provide proper care for him.
That teacher reportedly declined interview requests through the Newport News Education Association. Among other reasons, the educator noted a directive from the district not to discuss the shooting with media.
The boy’s family explained in a statement that their 6-year-old was “under a care plan” that “included his mother or father attending school with him and accompanying him to class every day, which stopped the week of the shooting.
“We will regret our absence on this day for the rest of our lives,” the family added in their statement.
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