6-Year-Old Admits Shooting Teacher in Chilling Bodycam Footage
Bodycam footage reveals a 6-year-old boy’s shocking admission after shooting his teacher, sparking a legal and emotional aftermath.
4 min read
Recently unsealed bodycam footage has captured a harrowing moment when a six-year-old boy, referred to as J.T. in court records, admitted to shooting his teacher. The video, released by Newport News police, shows officers responding to the incident in a first-grade classroom in 2023.
Officer Finds Gun and Child in Classroom
Officer Brian Torrez, whose body camera recorded the footage, entered the room and found J.T. being held by the class’s reading specialist, Amy Kovac. Kovac informed the officers that the child had admitted to possessing a gun, which later revealed to contain seven additional rounds.
🚨 A 6-year-old shot his teacher. Richneck Elementary, Jan 6, 2023. Court unsealed Officer Brian Torrez’s bodycam Oct 6, 2026. 🎥 The Virginian-Pilot / Daily Press https://t.co/TPphaycltx
A sheriff’s deputy announced that he had found the gun on the other side of the room, prompting the boy to begin yelling profanities and slurs. J.T. shouted, “Both y’all want a fucking piece of me, bitch?!” before Kovac asked him to stop.
Child’s Outburst and Confession
The officers decided not to move the gun and instead informed other officers via radio that they had the shooter. Kovac told the assistant principal that there had been an earlier threat about the gun, to which J.T. responded, “That n**ga retired last year.”
Kovac explained J.T.’s situation to the officers, noting that he had been on a modified schedule and was in his first week without his mother being in class. She also mentioned that his mother was set to pick him up at 2:30.
We are deeply saddened by the events at Richneck Elementary School. Our hearts our with our Richneck family during this difficult time. Support resources are available at https://t.co/vU0fGorzZj. Richneck will be closed on Monday and Tuesday, January 9 and 10. https://t.co/DlHbPNu9sr
J.T. flipped off Kovac after hearing about the teacher’s injury. One officer asked another if they had small handcuffs, while Kovac asked if she could stay. Torrez said, “You can stay for now. If you feel comfortable.”
J.T. said he wasn’t hurt in the shooting, but when another officer asked where the gun was, the boy replied, “It’s over there, whore.” Kovac told him to stop, adding, “That’s not how we speak to each other.” J.T. responded with profanity, saying, “Fuck you. Fuck you. Fuck you, bitch.”
My administration has offered assistance in response to the shooting at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News and stand at the ready to help in any way we can. I am continuing to monitor the situation and am praying for the continued safety of all students and the community.
The boy then confessed to stealing the gun from his mother. Court documents stated that J.T. had taken the gun from his mother’s purse that morning. The officer asked for the boy’s name, and after giving it, J.T. continued his outburst, saying, “If you want a piece of me, come get it on, bitch. I don’t care if you call backup. I don’t care if I go to jail, bitch.”
Kovac told him, “We know you know that language — and you know that’s not appropriate.” She added, “Mrs. Kovac’s NOT happy with that.”
A punch can be heard, but Torrez’s hands are covering the camera. Kovac later testified that the boy had punched her. She said, “You’re done,” as she got up and the police sergeant escorted the boy out of the room.
Legal and Emotional Aftermath
The footage was admitted into evidence during the May trial of former Richneck assistant principal Ebony Parker, who was indicted on eight counts of child neglect. All charges were later dismissed by Circuit Court Judge Rebecca M. Robinson.
The next month, the Daily Press and The Virginian-Pilot filed a motion to unseal the video, appealing to the First Amendment. They were granted permission to distribute the footage on the condition that the child’s face be blurred.
The boy is now in the custody of his great-grandfather. His 29-year-old mother, Deja Nicole Taylor, was released from federal prison in February after serving time for child neglect and lying on a background-check form when she bought the gun.
The victim, teacher Abby Zwerner, was nearly shot in the heart, with a bullet remaining in her chest. She spent almost two weeks in the hospital, underwent six surgeries, and was unable to maintain full use of her left hand. Zwerner was also awarded $10 million in a lawsuit against Parker.
Source: Daily Caller
