NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - A 6-year-old male student is in custody and a female teacher is in the hospital with life-threatening injuries Friday afternoon following a shooting in the classroom at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, officials confirm.
TIMELINE: Teacher talking again after being shot by 6-year-old Newport News student, sources confirm
Police chief Steve Drew confirmed to us that a 6-year-old first grade student has been identified as the shooting suspect at a 5:30 p.m. press conference. The chief also stated that the shooting was not accidental.
No students were injured in this incident, which occurred around 2 p.m., police said, but tactical teams were sent into the building.
Police say the teacher was taken to Riverside Regional Medical Center in Newport News.
"The police did an amazing job, they were here very, very quickly along with the sheriff’s office. We are ensuring that everyone is safe, we are ensuring that everyone is accounted for," said Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones. "This is a long day for Newport News. We’re going to ensure that everyone’s taken care of."
Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew also spoke with us, saying:
"All the children inside the school have been taken from the room with their teachers, and escorted to the gymnasium. They're all safe in there. They're actually in there with with counselors and officers. [They're] cutting up a little bit... It's good to see them laughing. We want to make sure that they're OK."
One mother on scene spoke with us, demanding the government do something about the violence in our country.
"Ok, that's the biggest problem in this country. Statistics in the U.K. for crime is zero for guns, why is it so bad? Why is there a 7-year-old with a bloody gun? Come on, think about it. Let's do something. We've got a new governor, let's do something, let's change it. You've got a beautiful country. You've got beautiful people, but what's the problem? Guns. How does a 7-year-old have a gun? That's what I'm pissed off with. I'm only here because my husband was in the military or otherwise, I would not have chosen this country," the mother declared.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin released the statement Friday night:
"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."
U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement in regards to the shooting:
“I’m monitoring this situation closely and praying for the safety of the students, teachers, staff, and first responders at Richneck Elementary School.”
There will be no school on Monday for Richneck Elementary School.
Newport News is a city of about 185,000 people in southeastern Virginia known for its shipyard, which builds the nation's aircraft carriers and other U.S. Navy vessels.
Richneck has about 550 students who are in kindergarten through fifth grade, according to the Virginia Department of Education’s website.
Stay with News 3 for updates.
