Charges dismissed against official at school where 6-year-old shot teacher

A judge in the US state of Virginia has dismissed charges against a former assistant principal at a school where a six-year-old shot his teacher during class.

Ebony Parker faced felony child abuse charges for allegedly ignoring warnings that the first grade student at her elementary school had a gun.

Her defence team argued the state had not made its case against Parker, and Circuit Court Judge Rebecca Robinson agreed, striking down all eight counts including disregard for life.

Parker put her head on the table and cried as the judge dismissed the charges against her.

"What happened that day was awful," Robinson said while reading out her ruling.

In January 2023, the child fired a single shot at teacher Abigail Zwerner, who had to have surgery after a single bullet went through her hand and struck her in the chest.

The child's mother Deja Taylor, 26, served jail time for a drug charge linked to the gun used in the attack.