STORY FOR THE FIRST TIME,
OPENING UP ABOUT HOW THE GUN
WENT OFF AND HOW SHE'S TRYING TO
MOVE FORWARD ONE DAY AT A TIME.
WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE TO HAVE
THE WORLD KNOW YOUR STORY, BUT
YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO TELL IT?
>> IT'S BEEN OVERWHELMING.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE
TALKED ABOUT, WHY YOU WANTED TO
TELL YOUR STORY, WHAT IT MEANS
TO YOU TO GET TO TELL YOUR OWN
STORY.
>> I THINK JUST BECAUSE IT'S
COMING FROM ME.
YOU KNOW, I'M THE PERSON WHO HAS
GONE THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE AND
HAS BEEN THROUGH THE TRAUMA AND
IT'S MY STORY.
>> IT IS A STORY THAT LEFT THE
WORLD IN DISBELIEF.
>> I HAVE A REPORT OF A TEACHER
SHOT.
>> 25-YEAR-OLD ABIGAIL ZWERNER
SHOT BY HER FIRST GRADE STUDENT
IN NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA ON
JANUARY 6th.
LET'S TALK FIRST ABOUT JUST HOW
YOU'RE DOING.
HOW IS YOUR RECOVERY GOING?
>> I HAVE BEEN DOING OKAY.
I HAVE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF
OBSTACLES AND CHALLENGES.
SOME DAYS ARE NOT SO GOOD DAYS
WHERE I CAN'T GET UP OUT OF BED.
SOME DAYS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS
WHERE I'M ABLE TO GET OUT OF BED
AND MAKE IT TO MY APPOINTMENTS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, FOR GOING THROUGH
WHAT I'VE GONE THROUGH, I TRY TO
STAY POSITIVE, YOU KNOW, TRY TO
HAVE A POSITIVE OUTLOOK ON
WHAT'S HAPPENED AND WHERE MY
FUTURE IS HEADING.
>> YOU JUST HAD A SURGERY ON
YOUR HAND.
WHAT ARE THE PHYSICAL INJURIES?
>> THE INITIAL GUNSHOT WENT
THROUGH MY LEFT HAND AND
RUPTURED THE MIDDLE BONE, AS
WELL AS THE INDEX FINGER AND THE
THUMB.
THE GUNSHOT THEN WENT INTO MY
CHEST UP HERE WHERE IT STILL
REMAINS.
SO I HAVE THE SCAR UP HERE AND I
STILL HAVE SOME BULLET FRAGMENTS
UP HERE.
>> SO PART OF THAT BULLET IS
STILL THERE?
>> YES.
>> DO YOU THINK IT WILL ALWAYS
BE THERE OR DO YOU THINK THEY
WILL REMOVE IT SOME DAY?
>> I THINK IT WILL ALWAYS BE
THERE.
>> I ASKED YOU A LOT ABOUT THE
WOUNDS THAT WE CAN SEE.
THERE ARE WOUNDS THAT WE CAN'T
SEE.
>> YES.
>> HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>> IT'S -- AT FIRST IT REALLY
SHOOK ME UP.
THEY WERE OPEN WOUNDS THAT I
COULD SEE AND SEEING AN OPEN
WOUND ON YOUR BODY AND
REMEMBERING HOW YOU GOT IT IS
PRETTY TRAUMATIZING IN ITSELF.
I THINK IT'S THEN HELPFUL NOW
THAT THEY HAVE SCARRED OVER.
BUT IT'S STILL A REMINDER THAT,
HEY, THIS HAPPENED TO YOU.
THIS IS WHAT YOUR BODY HAS BEEN
THROUGH.
>> SO IT WAS JANUARY 6th OF THIS
YEAR.
>> UH-HUH.
>> WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT
THAT DAY?
>> I REMEMBER A LOT.
THE MORNING IT FELT LIKE JUST A
REGULAR SCHOOL DAY, BUT I
STARTED HEARING THINGS AND
THINGS STARTED HAPPENING THAT
MADE MY FEAR GROW.
AS THE DAY WENT ON, IT GREW
MORE.
MY FEAR GREW MORE.
I REMEMBER HIM POINTING THE GUN
AT ME.
I REMEMBER THE LOOK ON HIS FACE.
I REMEMBER THE GUN GOING OFF.
I REMEMBER FEELING SOMETHING.
IT WAS A PRETTY SCARY DAY.
>> IN THAT MOMENT, WHAT'S GOING
THROUGH YOUR MIND?
>> I WAS TERRIFIED.
IN THAT MOMENT, MY INITIAL
REACTION WAS YOUR KIDS NEED TO
GET OUT OF HERE.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT A SAFE
CLASSROOM ANYMORE AND THAT YOU
NEED TO GO FIND HELP FOR
YOURSELF.
IT WAS PRETTY SHOCKING.
YOU KNOW, ONCE -- ONCE THE
FIREARM WENT OFF AND THEN I FELT
SOMETHING, THAT SHOCK ITSELF
THAT I HAD BEEN SHOT.
>> YOU KNEW YOU HAD BEEN SHOT?
>> UH-HUH, YEAH.
THAT WAS PRETTY SHOCKING ITSELF.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO GET MY
BABIES OUT OF THERE.
>> WHAT DID THE KIDS DO, SAY?
>> THEY WERE SCREAMING.
I THINK THEY -- THEY KNEW AS
WELL THAT THEY HAD TO GET OUT OF
THERE, BUT THEY WERE EXTREMELY
FRIGHTENED AND SCREAMING.
>> THE POLICE CHIEF SAID AFTER
THAT YOU HAD ENSURED THAT THE
KIDS GOT TO A SAFE PLACE.
HE SAID YOUR ACTIONS WERE
HEROIC.
DO YOU REMEMBER, WHAT WERE THE
NEXT THINGS THAT YOU DID?
>> THAT IS STILL KIND OF A BLUR.
GOT THEM OUT, AND I WENT TO GET
HELP FOR MYSELF.
I KNEW -- WELL, I DIDN'T KNOW AT
THE TIME THAT MY LUNG HAD
COLLAPSED, BUT I STARTED NOT
BEING ABLE TO BREATHE.
VERY RASPY BREATHS IN.
MY VISION STARTED GOING OUT.
I REMEMBER I WENT TO THE OFFICE,
AND I JUST PASSED OUT.
I THOUGHT I HAD DIED.
>> THE AMBULANCE CAME.
YOU WERE RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL.
WHAT DID DOCTORS SAY ABOUT THE
CONDITION YOU WERE IN AND YOUR
INJURIES?
>> IT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL.
WE BELIEVE, LIKE MY HAND BEING
UP WITH IT GOING THROUGH MY HAND
FIRST, WE BELIEVE THAT BY THE
BULLET GOING THROUGH THE HAND
FIRST THAT IT MOST LIKELY SAVED
MY LIFE.
>> EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS IS SO
UNTHINKABLE.
I WONDER WHAT YOU THINK OR HOW
YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS STUDENT.
>> YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME THINGS
THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET, AND I
JUST WILL NEVER FORGET THE LOOK
ON HIS FACE THAT HE GAVE ME
WHILE HE POINTED THE GUN
DIRECTLY AT ME.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WILL
NEVER FORGET.
IT'S CHANGED ME.
IT'S CHANGED MY LIFE.
>> HOW DO YOU EVEN MAKE SENSE OF
SOMETHING LIKE THIS?
>> YOU CAN'T.
YOU CAN'T.
YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE WHEN THE
SHOCK WILL EVER GO AWAY BECAUSE
OF TRUST HOW SURREAL IT WAS.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE VIVID
MEMORIES THAT I HAVE OF THAT
DAY.
YOU KNOW, I THINK ABOUT IT
DAILY.
SOMETIMES I HAVE NIGHTMARES.
>> ABIGAIL ZWERNER'S ATTORNEY
FILED A NOTICE OF INTENT TO SUE
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, ARGUING
THAT THE RICHNECK ADMINISTRATION
FAILED TO TAKE ACTION AFTER IT
WAS WARNED THREE SEPARATE TIMES
THAT THE BOY HAD A GUN WITH HIM
THE DAY THAT ABIGAIL ZWERNER WAS
SHOT.
SHE PLANS TO FILE A LAWSUIT IN
TWO WEEKS.
>> THERE HAVE BEEN MANY
FAILURES, AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE
PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE
FAILURES.
>> DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU COULD
HAVE BEEN BETTER PROTECTED BY
THE SCHOOL?
>> YES.
>> YOU FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD
HAVE DONE MORE?
>> YES.
>> THE PROSECUTOR ANNOUNCED
THERE WOULD NOT BE CRIMINAL
CHARGES AGAINST THE SIX-YEAR-OLD
BOY.
DO YOU HAVE AN OPINION ABOUT
THAT DECISION?
>> I'M NOT GOING TO WEIGH IN TO
THE PROSECUTOR'S DECISION, BUT I
AM FOLLOWING VERY CLOSELY THE
NEWPORT NEWS PROSECUTOR TO SEE
WHAT THEY DO IN THIS CASE AND
WHO THEY DO CHARGE ULTIMATELY,
IF THEY DO CHARGE ANYBODY.
>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT'S
HAPPENED AND WHAT HAPPENED TO
YOU, WHAT DOES JUSTICE MEAN TO
YOU IN THIS CASE?
>> THAT'S A TOUGH QUESTION TO
ANSWER.
>> YEAH.
DIANE, FOR YOU?
>> AS ABBIE SAID, THAT IS VERY
TOUGH TO ANSWER.
MY JOB IS TO HOLD THOSE
ACCOUNTABLE THAT I CAN HOLD
ACCOUNTABLE, AND I'M GOING TO
DEAL WITH THAT.
ABBIE HAS TO DEAL WITH THIS YOUR
ENTIRE LIFE.
>> NBC NEWS REACHED OUT TO THE
SCHOOL FOR COMMENT AND HAS NOT
HEARD BACK.
IN THE MOMENTS AFTER THE
SHOOTING, ABIGAIL ZWERNER'S
MOTHER AND SISTER RUSHED TO BE
BY HER SHOT.
>> WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN YOU
HEARD SHE WAS SHOT BY A STUDENT.
>> I PROBABLY MIGHT HAVE SAID
SOME EXPLETIVES IN MY HEAD.
I MIGHT HAVE EVEN SAID THEM OUT
LOUD.
YOU CAN'T WRAP YOUR HEAD AROUND
THAT.
ALL OF US BEING TEACHERS IN
CLASSROOMS AT ROUGH SCHOOLS,
ROUGH, YOU KNOW, ROUGH KIDS,
YOU'RE NEVER AFRAID LIKE THAT.
I NEVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT.
>> WHEN YOU SAW ABBIE?
>> OH, MY GOSH.
SHE CALLED ME MOMMY.
>> YOU DON'T CALL HER MOMMY
ANYMORE?
>> NO.
SHE CALLED ME MOMMY, AND I KNEW
LIKE, OH, MY GOSH.
THIS IS REAL.
I HAVEN'T HEARD MOMMY IN A LONG,
LONG TIME.
>> YEAH.
>> AND IT KIND OF BROKE MY
HEART.
>> YEAH.
>> HANNAH, YOU HAVE BEEN HELPING
TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR TWIN
SISTER.
WHAT HAS THIS TIME BEEN LIKE?
>> I WAS GRATEFUL I WAS ABLE TO
BE THERE WITH HER.
IT WAS NICE, BUT WE SPEND EVERY
MOMENT TOGETHER.
IT'S MAKING HER FOOD.
IT'S CLEANING UP, OPENING
TOOTHPASTE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I'M GRATEFUL TO HELP HER WITH
THAT.
>> BUT THE SUPPORT SHE'S
RECEIVED HAS EXTENDED FAR BEYOND
HER FAMILY.
>> IT'S HARD TO COMPREHEND
SOMETIMES HOW MANY PEOPLE OUT
THERE REALLY ARE JUST SUPPORTIVE
AND CARING.
THAT IN ITSELF HAS BEEN HARD TO
COMPREHEND.
THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY
STRANGERS REACHING OUT.
WE HAVE TONS OF HANDMADE CARDS,
HANDWRITTEN CARDS WITH PEOPLE'S
STORIES.
>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?
BECAUSE YOU HAVE SEEN A VERY
DARK SIDE OF HUMANITY.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU, TO
SEE ANOTHER SIDE?
>> IT HELPS ME REMEMBER TO TAKE
EACH DAY AS THEY COME, THAT EACH
DAY IS SPECIAL.
>> WHAT WOULD YOU WANT PEOPLE TO
KNOW ABOUT YOU NOW?
YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE PRAYED
FOR YOU AND SENT YOU CARDS,
PEOPLE WHO ARE ADMIRING YOU AND
LOVING YOU.
WHAT WOULD YOU WANT THEM TO KNOW
ABOUT ABBIE?
>> THAT I'M JUST SO THANKFUL.
THEIR MESSAGES, THEIR CARDS,
THEIR SUPPORT HAS NOT GONE
UNNOTICED, AND IT'S BEEN TRULY
INSPIRING TO KEEP PUSHING ME TO
MOVE FORWARD IN A POSITIVE WAY.
>> WHAT DO YOU TELL YOURSELF TO
GET THROUGH?
WHAT GIVES YOU HOPE?
>> I'M STILL HERE.
YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE I MADE IT
HERE FOR A REASON.
>> IF YOU COULD TALK TO YOUR
STUDENTS, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO
SAY TO THEM?
>> I WOULD TELL THEM I LOVE EACH
AND EVERY ONE OF THEM.
I'M GRATEFUL THEY'RE ALL ALIVE
AND THEY'RE SAFE AND THEY'RE
HEALTHY.
AND I JUST MISS THEM DEARLY.
>> ABBIE WASN'T ABLE TO GET INTO
DETAILS OF WHAT LED UP TO THE
SHOOTING THAT DAY OR TALK TOO
MUCH ABOUT THE BOY AND HIS
FAMILY BECAUSE THERE IS PENDING
LITIGATION.
AN ATTORNEY FOR THE BOY'S FAMILY
TELLS NBC NEWS WE WELCOME THE
PROSECUTOR'S DECISION NOT TO
CHARGE THE BOY AND CONTINUE TO
PRAY FOR ABIGAIL ZWERNER'S
COMPLETE RECOVERY.
THEY SAID THE SIX-YEAR-OLD HAS
AN ACUTE DISABILITY AND WAS
RECEIVING THE TREATMENT HE NEEDS
NOW UNDER COURT ORDERED
TEMPORARY DETENTION AT A MEDICAL
FACILITY.
BUT IT IS A LONG ROAD FOR ABBIE
THAT SHE'S STILL ON.
SHE JUST HAD ANOTHER HAND
SURGERY LAST WEEK.
AND OF COURSE THERE ARE THE
WOUNDS SHE CARRIES IN HER HEART
FROM SUCH A TRAUMATIC INCIDENT.
>> CONSIDERING ALL SHE'S BEEN
THROUGH, HER OUTLOOK IS NOTHING
SHORT OF REMARKABLE.
>> IT TRULY IS.
SHE HAS A GREAT SUPPORT SYSTEM.
HER BROTHER IS IN THE MILITARY
AND ASKED TO BE REASSIGNED TO
MOVE BACK AND BE CLOSER TO HOME.
HER MOM AND SISTER THERE, ALL
TEACHERS.
SO SHE HAS THAT SUPPORT.
BUT THIS IS A PROCESS THAT SHE'S
CLEARLY STILL GOING THROUGH.
>> DOES SHE QUESTION WHY?
I MEAN, DO PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW
WHY?
>> I THINK THAT IS THE QUESTION.
I DON'T KNOW.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT IS HARD TO
MAKE ANY SENSE OF SOMETHING LIKE
THIS.
>> AND HE DIDN'T GO AFTER ANY
CLASS MATES OR ANYTHING.
IT WAS JUST HER?
>> AS FAR AS WE KNOW.
BUT THIS IS A CASE ABOUT TO BE
LITIGATED.
HER LAWYER WILL FILE A CIVIL
SUIT.
THERE IS A POTENTIAL OF CRIMINAL
CHARGES.
THE LOCAL PROSECUTOR SAID HE
WOULD NOT BE CHARGING THE BOY,
BUT THERE IS POTENTIAL CHARGES
AGAINST OTHERS INVOLVED IN THE
CASE, AND THAT MIGHT REVEAL MORE
OF IT.
BUT FRANKLY, IT IS UNFATHOMABLE.
THERE IS NO EXPLAINING WHAT
HAPPENED TO A YOUNG TEACHER IN
THE HANDS OF A SIX-YEAR-OLD BOY.
>> WHEN SHE TALKED ABOUT THE
LOOK ON HIS FACE.
YOU WOULD NEVER IMAGINE THAT
SHE'S TALKING ABOUT A CHILD.
>> A CHILD, YEAH.