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A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 7 February 2023

Boy who shot teacher allegedly tried to choke another

By DENISE LAVOIE and the boy had brought a gun
BEN FINLEY to school. The boy’s back-
Associated Press pack was searched, but no
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — gun was found, and admin-
A 6-year-old Virginia boy istrators did not remove the
who shot and wounded boy from class, lock down
his first-grade teacher the school or call police.
constantly cursed at staff The claim notice says that
and teachers, chased stu- Zwerner went to former
dents around and tried Assistant Principal Ebony
to whip them with his belt Parker’s office at about
and once choked another 11:15 a.m. that day “to ad-
teacher “until she couldn’t vise her that the shooter
breathe,” according to a seemed more ‘off’ than
legal notice filed by an at- usual and was in a violent
torney for the wounded mood.”
teacher. It also says the boy had
The incidents were de- threatened to beat up a
scribed in a notice sent to kindergarten student and
the Newport News school “angrily stared down” the
district by Diane Toscano, school security officer in the
an attorney for teacher lunch room.
Abby Zwerner, informing A Newport News police officer directs traffic at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Va., The document describes
the district that Zwerner in- on Monday Jan. 30, 2023. several more warnings that
tends to sue. The notice of Associated Press Parker was allegedly given
claim, which was obtained ers and students. he returned to Zwerner’s lined last month during a by staff about the boy hav-
by The Associated Press Two days before the shoot- class the following day, he news conference. ing a gun.
through a public records ing, the boy allegedly pulled a 9mm handgun out The document says that “Assistant Principal Parker
request, outlines prior be- “slammed” Zwerner’s cell- of his pocket and shot her several hours before the should have called police,
havioral issues the boy had phone and broke it, ac- while she sat at a reading shooting, at least three instead she did not follow
at Richneck Elementary cording to the claim no- table, the notice says. teachers and staff mem- proper protocol and chose
School and troubling inter- tice. He was given a one- The notice elaborates on bers warned school admin- to do absolutely nothing,”
actions he had with teach- day suspension, but when allegations Toscano out- istrators that they believed the claim notice states.q

Toxic chemicals to be released from derailed tanker cars

By PATRICK ORSAGOS and for 3:30 p.m. EST. Scott volves using a small charge day to use the controlled Police in the village moved
JOHN SEEWER Deutsch of Norfolk South- to blow a hole in the cars, release. Pennsylvania out of their communication
Associated Press ern Railway said doing this allowing the material to go Gov. Josh Shapiro said the center as the threat of an
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (AP) during the daytime will al- into a trench and burning evacuation zone includes explosion increased.
— Authorities plan to re- low the fumes to disperse it off before it’s released in about 20 Pennsylvania Police cars, snow plows
lease toxic chemicals into more quickly and prevent the air, he said. The site is residents, but as of Sunday and military vehicles from
the air from five derailed the rail cars from explod- very close to the state line, night, half had remained the Ohio National Guard
tanker cars that were in ing and sending shrapnel and the evacuation area in their homes. Pennsylva- blocked streets leading
danger of exploding Mon- and other debris from flying extends into a sparsely pop- nia State Police were go- into the area. About 50
day, telling residents near through the neighborhood. ulated area of Pennsylva- ing to door-to-door to assist cars, including 10 carrying
the Ohio-Pennsylvania “We can’t control where nia. About half of the 4,800 those residents and ensure hazardous materials, de-
state line to leave immedi- that goes,” said Deutsch, residents in East Palestine that they leave. “This is very railed in a fiery crash Friday
ately or face the possibility who estimated the release had been warned to leave serious,” he said. “I want night, according to rail op-
of death.Ohio Gov. Mike would take from one to over the weekend before you to know that if I were erator Norfolk Southern and
DeWine ordered evacu- three hours. The process in- officials decided on Mon- there right now, if the First the National Transportation
ations in the area of the Lady and our children were Safety Board. No injuries to
derailment that has been there right now, we would crew, residents or first re-
smoldering since Friday evacuate. We would leave sponders were reported.
night. Authorities believe this area. It is potentially too Five were transporting vinyl
most, if not all, residents in dangerous.” Forced evac- chloride, which is used to
the danger zone have left uations began Sunday make the polyvinyl chloride
but they were knocking night in the village of East hard plastic resin in plastic
on doors one more time Palestine after authorities products and is associated
before releasing the vinyl became alarmed that the with increased risk of liver
chloride inside the cars, he rail cars could explode af- cancer and other cancers,
said. ter a “drastic temperature according to the federal
“You need to leave, you change” was observed in government’s National
just need to leave. This is a a rail car. Residents were Cancer Institute Federal
matter of life and death,” This photo taken with a drone shows portions of a Norfolk and packing overnight bags, investigators say the cause
DeWine said at press con- Southern freight train that derailed Friday night in East Palestine, loading their pets into cars of the derailment was a
ference ahead of the con- Ohio are still on fire at mid-day Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. and searching for hotel mechanical issue with a rail
trolled release planned Associated Press rooms Monday morning. car axle.q