Authorities claim that a Virginia teacher who was shot by a six-year-old student has shown signs of improvement in her condition.
After being shot with a handgun on Friday at Richneck Elementary School in the city of Newport News, Abby Zwerner sustained injuries that put her life in danger.
The BBC was informed by Mayor Phillip Jones that Ms. Zwerner's recovery was "trending in a positive direction."
However, he went on to say that she remained in critical condition following the incident.
People on social media wished Ms. Zwerner, who is probably in her 30s, a speedy recovery online.
"Prayers and best wishes for Abby's health and recovery" were offered by her Virginia-based alma mater, James Madison University.
How the child, who is still in police custody, got the gun is still unknown. Although the school, which has approximately 550 students, had facilities for metal detection, officials stated that students were randomly checked and that not every child was inspected.
Chief Steve Drew told reporters that the shooting occurred following an "altercation" in a classroom for first graders (ages six to seven) and did not appear to be "accidental." Police have declined to say what might have motivated the incident.
Steve Gonzalez, a parent whose child was in the classroom when the shooting occurred, told Fox News that Ms. Zwerner had shown selflessness in her response.
He claimed that after being shot, "she screamed at her children to run away."
Mayor Jones, who only took office five days ago, said that while police were still looking into the shooting's circumstances, he thought the "word altercation was a valid one, and one that I would use."
He stated, "We don't have all the answers about how a six-year-old was able to handle a firearm or access a firearm."
"I believe this is a warning sign for the nation. This is a dark day in our history."
Additionally, the officers have declined to discuss their interactions with the student's parents.
Six-year-olds are not allowed to be tried as adults under Virginia law. Additionally, the child is too young to be placed in the Department of Juvenile Justice's custody if convicted.
However, a judge could deny the boy's parents custody and place him under state control.
"Been in contact with our commonwealth's attorney [local prosecutor] and some other entities to help us best get services to this young man," Chief Drew stated on Saturday.
Saturday, George Parker, superintendent of the school district, stated that the shooting demonstrated that "we need to educate our children and we need to keep them safe."
"I'm sounding like a broken record today because I continue to reiterate that: We need the community's support, continued support, to ensure that youth do not have access to firearms. I know I'm sounding like a broken record today. that we must prevent young people from possessing firearms," he added.
About 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of Richmond, the state capital, Newport News is a city of 180,000 people.
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