What chya gonna do when a gun comes to school? Could have, Would have, Should have

I really do not think that I was the only teacher during the 1997-1998 school year to believe that a kid would bring a gun to school.  But in my district, then, it sure seemed like it. 1996 to 1998 were not quiet years in schools when it came to gun violence, especially in “unexpected” school districts. I was cognizant of behavior patterns and access to weapons. And I knew we were not some special immune district. I did work with humans after all.

I may have been unique in questioning administration though, well at least in my district. My book does detail the responses from parents and teachers. The parents wrote letters, so did certain staff. The correspondence is telling. What I wrote about teachers’ insight would be, at least in a court of law, considered hearsay at least in Newport News, Va. But, after my workshop request addressed to particular staff, no one could fain ignorance. They could all have been called on in a trial to speak for themselves. I listed them in my legal endeavor.

In almost every incidence of violence in a school setting (not only gun violence), one will hear naive statements, and often, “the safety and well being of the students is the top priority” right after the damage had been done.

If a trial is held, defense lawyers outright lie, using terms like unprecedented, unthinkable, unpredictable, “who would ever think a young child would bring a gun?”. Then you hear could, would and should. The lawyer in the recent dismissed trial of the VP liked "could and should", except when it came to his client. Her defense lawyer in the civil trial, which the VP lost, used “unthinkable" and unpredictable.

What is unthinkable and unpredictable after a students tells you? 

So, in this blog post, I have listed 12 videos or news stories that discuss what happens after a kid brings a gun to school.  Don’t let the naive and stupid; administrators trying to save face; or a lawyer offering bs lines to protect (the people who did nothing or failed to be proactive) get away with ignorant statements. Be proactive. If you need examples, share these videos or this post.

It is almost summer, with school heading to seasonal breaks. You should have time to review. The oldest link is 18 years old. They are not in any order but all are related to children under 12 years old. These are American schools but violence in a school is not unique to America. 

Remember, you could be the one with a needed puzzle piece. What would you do to prevent a violent attack in your school? After the fact, the law will be made clear to you about what should have been done.

In almost of these scenarios, children warned the staff who took action. Those children must have held more clout then the children under VP, EP  in the now infamous elementary school in Newport News, Va.

New gun laws also would not help. Gun laws were broken in these scenarios. 

https://youtu.be/Ce2dQk6TplQ?si=Fzf0N40Vvvuea-fs

 https://youtu.be/svOk6Dthky0?si=i8uNWVt0dJLFl31

https://youtu.be/gx2nTgSkbsc?si=_-b9Y4-RjPiJJfgZ

https://youtu.be/gx2nTgSkbsc?si=9fEt44Gw_KPhutth

https://youtu.be/HxmEpZfkXFo?si=i8U_PYRoKqgi7xt9

https://youtu.be/dSAma5OSD5M?si=V6vTdYJGzmNVehn5

https://youtu.be/ddmupe5Z4rM?si=rgAXWFCPZjpwUzTz

https://youtube.com/shorts/CPLTg916LUU?si=ACHhth8Xj08ahu22

https://youtu.be/lOGJO3ojK2k?si=Mh5KwuaPX3Wyx1jO

https://youtu.be/9uzDvOlTakM?si=TRxBN3vDXe8ybi9f

https://youtube.com/shorts/KvslMqFiA4o?si=lUsN7AYQ95b_yqF4

https://youtu.be/6tZ_J3RE3yw?si=usRaFN1mieXF-SZE

https://youtu.be/2816d_jT_w8?si=hL5wyfTOYx3w4UAs

Marian R. Carlino

May 26, 2026

How costly are missed warning signs?

 The 40-million-dollars? 

(Originally published on April 22, 2024, edited and updated November 7, 2025.)

A young teacher, who also suffered from depression before the shooting, filed a lawsuit against the school district after she was shot and seriously injured by her first-grade student, who was 6 years old. 

It was January 6, 2023.

She survived and sued for $40 million. The jury awarded the amount of  $10 million.

There are questions the lawsuit answered. Mainstream media covered this failure to protect.

A grand jury also has indicted the assistant principal, and the mother of the boy has received jail time.

The gun jammed; otherwise, per the Grand Jury report, the teacher may have been killed.  The children in the class could have suffered physical injuries in addition to the emotional trauma if the gun had not malfunctioned.

This is not a gun control issue. It is, though, about people not doing their jobs. The testimony revealed the missteps and failures.

The civil court case was decided by a jury on November 6, 2025, but not before the female defense attorney of the vice principal did her best to throw the young teacher under the proverbial bus.  Next up is the criminal trial against the vice principal.  I hope the defendant gets the "book thrown at her."

It was clear from the testimony that the teacher may not have understood she had the required permission to search the child. But per the chain of command, as many understand it in a school, the staff went to the vice principal. The rest is history.

In 2025, the defense lawyer said "unthinkable" and "unprecedented" in the questioning and closing arguments. She must still be living under a rock.  

November 6, 2025

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/abigail-zwerner-wins-10-million-lawsuit-shot-6-year-old-virginia-schoo-rcna240892

 Resources that I use to write.

How would you like your classroom remembered?  In a violent time, real questions deserve real answers.

40 million dollar failure...The jury thought it was worth 10 million for the teacher. I am happy she won.  Her life will never be the same.

Previous links: 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ebony-parker-charged-child-neglect-shooting-richneck-elementary-school-virginia/

https://youtu.be/DHM4mgfw2_w?si=QjA_R4JogzPeC3R4

My book, Stopping School Violence One Teacher's Silent Scream, describes my concerns and actions in 1998. 

What would you have done?

Compare and contrast.  My principal was a Peter Principal also. It was a struggle to get my coworkers to understand that prevention is worth a pound of cure-- or at least $10 million dollars worth.

Marian R. Carlino

November 7, 2025

April 22, 2024