- The teacher shot by a 6-year-old student in Virginia is recovering, Newport News mayor says.
- Mayor Phillip Jones told the BBC that the incident was a "dark day in our history."
The Mayor of Newport News, Virginia where a teacher at Richneck Elementary School who police said was shot by a 6-year-old student called the incident "a dark day in our history."
"We don't have all the answers about how a six-year-old was able to handle a firearm or how a six-year-old was able to access a firearm," Mayor Phillip Jones told the BBC. "This is a dark day in our history and I think this is a red flag for the country,"
Jones who took office just five days ago told the BBC that the teacher, Abby Zwerner's recovery was "trending in a positive direction" but she's still in critical condition after sustaining life-threatening injuries in Friday's incident.
On Friday, Newport News Police Department Chief Steve Drew said the student has been detained. No students were injured, police said.
"The altercation was between a 6-year-old, the student who did have the firearm, and the teacher, and then the round was fired," Drew said late Friday, according to USA Today. "This was not an accidental shooting."
In a statement, Jones said police were investigating how the shooting happened, and are trying to get the child all the services he may need.
"I do think that after this event, there is going to be a nationwide discussion on how these sorts of things can be prevented," Jones said, according to the Guardian.