James Madison

The condition of a Virginia teacher left seriously injured when she was shot by a six-year-old pupil has shown signs of improvement, authorities say.

Abby Zwerner suffered life-threatening injuries after she was shot with a handgun at Richneck Elementary School in The City of Newport News on Friday.

Mayor Phillip Jones told The Bbc that Ms Zwerner's recovery was " trending in a positive direction".

But he added that she remained in a Critical Condition after The Incident .

Online, Social Media users wished Ms Zwerner - who is believed to be in her 30s - a speedy recovery.

Her Alma Mater , James Madison University in Virginia, offered " prayers and Best Wishes for Abby's health and recovery".

It is unclear how The Child - who remains in police Custody - obtained The Gun . Officials Said that while The School - which has around 550 students - had metal detection facilities, students were checked at random and not Every Child was inspected.

Police have declined to say what might have motivated The Incident , but Chief Steve Drew told reporters The Shooting had come after an " altercation" in a First Grade (ages six to seven) classroom and did not appear to be " accidental".

One parent, Steve Gonzalez, whose child was present in the classroom at The Time of The Shooting , told Fox News that Ms Zwerner had reacted selflessly after The Shooting .

He Said that after being struck by the bullet " she screamed at her kids to run away".

Mayor Jones - who took office just Five Days Ago - Said police were continuing to investigate the circumstances around The Shooting , but Said he thought the " word altercation was a valid one, And One that I would use".

" We don't have all the answers about how a six-year-old was able to handle a firearm or how a six-year-old was able to access a firearm, " He Said .

" This is a Dark Day in our history and I think this is a Red Flag for the country. "

Officers have also declined to discuss what contact they have had with The Student 's parents.

Virginia law prevents six-year-olds being tried as adults. And The Child would also be too young to be committed to the Custody of The Department of Juvenile Justice if found guilty.

But a judge could revoke the parents' Custody of The Boy and take him into the supervision of The State .

On Saturday, Chief Drew Said police had " been in contact with our commonwealth's attorney [local prosecutor] and some other entities to help us best get services to this young man".

School District Superintendent George Parker Said on Saturday that The Shooting showed " we need to educate Our Children and we need to keep them safe".

" We need the community's support, continued support, to make sure that guns are not available to youth and I'm sounding like a broken record today, because I continue to reiterate that: that we need to keep The Guns out of The Hands of our Young People , " he added.

Newport News is a city of around 180,000 people and sits about 70 miles (112km) to The South of The State capital Richmond .

Source of news: bbc.com