Newport News, VA School Searched 6-Year-Old Shooter’s Backpack but Failed to Find Weapon Used to Shoot Teacher

Newport News, Virginia Superintendent Dr. George Parker shared with parents Thursday in a town hall that the six-year-old student who shot a teacher had their backpack searched before the incident but no gun was found.

In a virtual Town Hall with parents of Richneck elementary on Thursday Parker stated, “The book bag for the student was searched after it was reported that he potentially had a weapon. An administrator was notified.”

Two and a half hours later the student shot his first-grade teacher and police were on the scene shortly after that.

The superintendent also communicated that he had been in contact with Robb Elementary School in Uvalde Texas asking for advice on how to proceed. “We’ve been in contact with Uvalde in Texas who have been very gracious in communicating with us.”

Newport News Public Schools has had three school shootings in the last three years, Parker shared they will be changing how they will be handling security. He shared he is considering clear plastic backpacks for Richneck students provided by the district.

The school board chair announced the district plans to install permanent metal detectors in all schools as they had secured funding for 90 of them Wednesday. Richneck will be getting ones immediately.

Parker shared they are still working on when students will return to class. “We want to make sure that we have measures in place that will allow our faculty and our students and you our parents to feel confident that your student is entering a safe building on a daily basis,” Parker said.