GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Stephen Lamar Jones, 43, has pleaded guilty in federal court to possessing methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine with the intent to distribute them. John P. Heekin, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the plea.
Heekin credited the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office for their investigative work, saying it helped secure the successful prosecution. “This repeat offender sought to profit from the devastation caused by meth and other drugs,” Heekin said. “Now he’ll remain locked away in federal prison where he belongs.”
Authorities arrested Jones after an Alachua County deputy detained him for being in a park after hours. He was found with 284 grams of methamphetamine, as well as heroin and cocaine. Jones has remained in the Alachua County Jail since his July 20, 2025, arrest. He also has a previous conviction for amphetamine trafficking.
Jones faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and could receive a life sentence.
The prosecution resulted from a joint investigation involving the DEA and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christie Utt and Tyler Fleming are handling the case.
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Chief U.S. District Judge Allen C. Winsor is scheduled to sentence Jones on December 8, 2026, at the U.S. Courthouse in Gainesville.
The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative that combines federal resources to combat illegal immigration, eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime, human trafficking and drug trafficking.
Chaos Erupts at Texas Trump Rally as Protesters Disrupt Event
At least three protesters interrupted President Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Texas on Wednesday night.
The disruption began just minutes after Trump took the stage, when one protester and then another shouted at the president as the crowd responded with boos.
Trump paused briefly before responding: “He’s going back home to mom right now,” he said, adding, “What he doesn’t know is that his mom voted for Trump.”
He then resumed his speech and attacked Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico, who is currently leading Trump’s preferred Republican candidate, Ken Paxton, in polling for the US Senate race.
Trump later returned to the protest, telling the San Antonio audience: “You know, many of these protesters are paid. You know that, right?”
The president spent several more minutes criticizing Talarico before introducing an “Angel Mom” whose son was killed in a crime committed by an illegal immigrant in 2014.
Another protester appeared to interrupt her remarks as well.
Later in the rally, Trump said millions of seniors would receive refund checks. “Over 20 million seniors on Medicare will receive checks or deposits for over $100 each, including over 1.4 million seniors here … in Texas,” he told the crowd.
US President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally for Republican US Senate candidate Ken Paxton at Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas, US, October 7, 2026
A demonstrator holds a Cuban flag as US President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally for Republican US Senate candidate Ken Paxton at Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas, US, October 7, 2026
With less than a month remaining before Election Day, Paxton is trailing Democratic rival James Talarico in the latest New York Times/Siena Research poll. Paxton’s campaign has also faced a series of personal controversies during his ongoing divorce, including his reported relationship with mistress Tracy Duhon, which the Daily Mail has extensively covered.
NEXT UP: Joe Manganiello’s Feud With Ex-Wife Sofia Vergara Explodes
The Republican Senate candidate was also heard criticizing Washington’s decision-making in newly surfaced audio released just hours before Trump’s San Antonio rally.
A protester wearing a T-shirt that reads ‘S.O.S. CUBA’ is escorted out of the venue of Trump’s Texas rally on Wednesday evening
US President Donald Trump rallied for Republican US Senate candidate Ken Paxton in San Antonio on Wednesday
Another protestor is escorted out after disrupting Trump’s campaign rally on Wednesday night
A female protestor was also among those escorted from the rally Trump held in support of Ken Paxton and other Republicans in Texas
At a September 24 event, Paxton was asked by an attendee what he believed was “dragging” down his campaign. According to the audio, he replied: “It’s not tariffs…. It’s the war, it’s gas prices, it’s diesel.”
The Lone Star State Republican made the comments during a private fundraising lunch with lobbyists in Washington, DC, according to audio reported by Axios.
“When it’s over $6 per gallon for diesel … people are feeling the pinch,” Paxton said, warning that higher fuel costs push up “food prices and everything else.”
Paxton also acknowledged that he could not end the war and had “no control over gas prices.”
Paxton’s remarks are the third that have been leaked from the same event in the last month.
Sacramento Commission Rejects Plan to Rename Cesar Chavez Plaza
A naming dispute has sparked debate in Sacramento after officials declined to endorse “Union Plaza,” the choice that received the most public support, arguing that it does not sufficiently reflect the city’s Mexican-American heritage.
The Sacramento Parks and Community Enrichment Commission had been considering a new name for Cesar Chavez Plaza, a historic one-block park and civic gathering space in downtown Sacramento. The review followed statewide criticism over allegations that the labor leader sexually abused and raped multiple women and girls.
More than 2,600 residents weighed in after the city announced plans to rename the roughly 175-year-old plaza. “Union Plaza” led the poll with 450 votes.
“Dolores Huerta Park” finished second with 243 votes, while “Farmworkers Plaza” placed third with 198. The debate also drew pointed reactions online, including calls from some residents to restore the site’s original name, “Plaza Park.”
Several commissioners have since questioned whether “Union Plaza” is appropriate, saying the name does not adequately recognize Mexican-American heritage, KCRA reported.
Some commission members said they were reluctant to move away from the option that received the strongest public support.
“We have now erased the legacy of the people from that plaza, and we’ve erased the identity of the people who built that legacy, and to me it does not feel thoughtful, it does not feel intentional, it does not feel inclusive, it does not feel ethical,” Commissioner Monique Langer said.
Commission Chair Jeanine Gaines acknowledged her reservations but said the public vote carried significant weight. “I didn’t necessarily like it, but I don’t know if my feelings can push me to outweigh what the people said,” she said.
CONTINUE READING: Driver in Interstate Shooting Told Police He “Had to Kill”
The commission has now opted to consider additional names and may consult local organizations representing Mexican-American interests.
Officials have not announced a timetable for the next consultation. Any proposed name would ultimately require approval from the Sacramento City Council.
For now, Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty said “Union Plaza” remains the city’s planned new name.
“We respect our advisory Parks Commission, but will disagree with their action and proceed accordingly with the community-supported name change to Union Plaza,” McCarty said in a statement.
Sacramento realtor Steve Walker was among those who criticized the commission online for considering alternatives to “Plaza Park,” the square’s original name before it was renamed in the 1990s to honor the disgraced union leader.
“What’s wrong with the original name of Plaza Park? It was totally inclusive and it’s historically correct,” Walker wrote on Facebook.
Brin Londeaux voiced a similar view, adding: “Maybe they shouldn’t name places after people, in case they wind up becoming politically problematic down the road.”
Councilmember Phil Pluckebaum said city officials would seek the broadest possible agreement before settling on another name.
“We will continue to work to find a suitable solution that works for as many as possible,” Pluckebaum, whose district includes the park, told the Sacramento Bee.
Fans Celebrate Jim Henson’s 90th Birthday With a Rainbow Connection
ASTORIA, Queens — Jim Henson’s birthday has become an annual highlight at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens. This year, the museum expanded the celebration into a four-day tribute.
The festivities honored what would have been Henson’s 90th birthday on Sept. 24, 2026. The museum is home to The Jim Henson Exhibition, a rare permanent collection tracing the legendary creator’s career through his puppets, television and film work, cultural influence and lasting impact on pop culture.
For MoMI Executive Director Aziz Isham, the museum is a natural setting for celebrating Henson’s legacy.
“It really allows us to be a community hub for people who are fans of the Muppets, fans of ‘Fraggle Rock,’ fans of ‘Sesame Street.’ ‘Sesame Street’ is filmed right across the street from us, too,” Isham said.
Puppeteers Kate Gaynor and Richard Gomez first crossed paths at an earlier Jim Henson birthday event. Gaynor says Henson’s work continues to resonate because it centers on “finding yourself and acceptance in kind of a big scary world and knowing there’s a place for you among all the little, weird creatures.”
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Matt Bingel joined the puppet tea party with members of his neurodiverse organization, The Drama of Works Puppet Club. He said the gathering offered “a lot of great people and a lot of great fans of puppetry.”
The Jim Henson Company also presented a screening of “Time Piece,” Henson’s Oscar-nominated 1965 short film, which was produced and shot throughout the Tri-State area. Archives Director Karen Falk offered an extensive introduction, sharing behind-the-scenes details and production photos from recognizable local settings.
“He really grew his company in New York. New York is the home of many of his creative partnerships. He gathered his team here. With the success of ‘The Muppet Show,’ he bought what we think of as the Muppet Mansion on East 69th Street, which was the headquarters for many years, of the company.” Henson’s creature shop, the New York-based workshop responsible for creating iconic puppets and characters, remains part of that legacy.
Rachel Hunt’s brother, Richard, was among Jim Henson’s early puppeteers and creative collaborators.
She attends the celebration to honor her late brother and reconnect with the Muppet community, which she describes as “just the most incredible group of loving people who come together with so much love and feel like they’re so accepted in this environment.”
Driver in Interstate Shooting Told Police He “Had to Kill”
An Iowa man accused of shooting at vehicles traveling along an interstate and injuring a woman allegedly told police after his arrest, “I had to kill people today,” court records state.
Andrew Darrick Tanaka, 27, of West Des Moines, is charged with four counts of attempted murder in connection with Monday afternoon’s shootings on Interstate 35 in Warren County, the Iowa Department of Public Safety said.
According to a criminal complaint and affidavit filed Tuesday in Warren County District Court, Tanaka allegedly made the statement after authorities took him into custody.
The violence was reported at about 3:31 p.m. Monday, when emergency dispatchers began receiving multiple 911 calls about gunfire on the northbound side of I-35.
Andrew Darrick Tanaka, 27, faces four attempted murder charges after allegedly firing at several vehicles on Iowa’s Interstate 35 on Oct. 5, 2026. (Iowa Department of Public Safety)
The affidavit says Tanaka was driving a black Chevrolet Equinox when a woman in a black BMW passed him. The BMW then overtook a Subaru Outback.
Investigators allege Tanaka pursued the Subaru and fired at least two shots through the driver’s-side window. One bullet struck the woman behind the wheel in her left shoulder.
He allegedly then caught up with the BMW and fired another shot through its driver’s-side window.
Tanaka continued driving north before striking the rear of a gray Nissan Altima occupied by two people, court documents say.
Authorities have not identified a motive in the Interstate 35 shootings in Iowa. (Stephen M. Katz/South Florida Sun-Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
When the people in the Nissan stopped and approached to check on him, Tanaka allegedly exited the Equinox with a handgun and fired at least one shot into the vehicle’s windshield.
Warren County sheriff’s deputies, West Des Moines police officers and Iowa State Patrol troopers responded to the shooting reports near mile marker 56.
Officers found the wounded woman and several vehicles that appeared to have been hit by gunfire. She was transported to a nearby hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Authorities later located Tanaka along the interstate after the crash left his vehicle disabled.
The Des Moines skyline is visible from the lookout at Two Rivers Park on Oct. 9, 2025, in Des Moines, Iowa. (Cody Scanlan/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
According to the affidavit, Tanaka was standing on the highway shoulder with a handgun when officers arrived. He was arrested without further incident.
The shootings prompted authorities to close the interstate for several hours as investigators examined the scene and collected evidence.
Tanaka was booked into the Warren County Jail on four counts of attempted murder.
The Warren County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are leading the investigation.
Spy Thriller of the Year Features CIA Chief and Daily Mail Scoops
Earlier this year, I met a literary agent to discuss the thriller I am writing. During our conversation, he asked whether I had read Damascus Station by David McCloskey.
I admitted that I had not. The answer was clearly the wrong one. He responded with a mixture of disbelief and disdain, insisting that I put matters right immediately. I took his advice, went to the nearest Waterstones and bought a copy.
The praise printed on the cover offered an immediate explanation for the agent’s enthusiasm. General David Petraeus, who commanded US and Nato forces in Afghanistan and Iraq before becoming CIA director, called it “the best spy novel I have ever read”.
The Times described it as “one of the best spy thrillers for years”, while historian Simon Sebag Montefiore called it “breathlessly gripping and truly terrifying”.
The novel itself justified the acclaim. McCloskey spent years working as a CIA analyst at field stations throughout the Middle East, giving him a close view of some of the 21st century’s most consequential conflicts. That experience also gave him an exceptional command of espionage tradecraft.
Whether he is explaining how to build a pipe bomb or evade surveillance, McCloskey writes with the convincing authority of someone who understands the subject from the inside.
The novel also introduced Artemis Aphrodite Procter, a diminutive but formidable CIA station chief who stands just 5ft in her socks. She has since featured in three of McCloskey’s four novels.
Procter returns for a fourth time in McCloskey’s fifth book, London Station, published on Thursday. This time, however, she shares the spotlight with an unexpected co-star: the Daily Mail. The newspaper’s scoops, McCloskey says, “drive almost the entirety of the action” — more on that later.
David McCloskey’s fifth book, London Station, is published on Thursday and gives the Daily Mail an unexpected role in the story
The story begins with a Trump-like president taking power in Washington and setting out to rewrite the terms of Britain’s long-standing “special relationship” with the United States.
Its timing could scarcely be more pointed. The “America First” camp currently holds sway in the White House, fuelling repeated disputes with Britain over issues ranging from tariffs to the war in Iran. Tensions were also highlighted this week by the abrupt withdrawal of 12 heavy bombers from RAF Fairford.
In London Station, the fictional president is John Wood, and Britain’s intelligence services become one of his principal targets.
Wood regards the British as “pickpockets”. McCloskey’s narrator offers a more elaborate version of the insult, describing them as “a band of charmingly accented thieves trading on faded imperial glory to collect crumbs of intel and hawk them to the CIA in exchange for a fine meal”.
Determined to redress what he sees as an imbalance, Wood removes the experienced professional leading the CIA and replaces him with Bobby Jerome, the founder of America’s largest house-building company.
The idea may sound far-fetched, but McCloskey noted in a recent article for The Spectator that, soon after he completed London Station, Donald Trump appointed Bill Pulte — heir to a home-building fortune — as acting director of National Intelligence.
Jerome’s appointment immediately attracts opposition. A senator on the Intelligence Committee points out that the businessman has “zero intelligence or national security experience”.
When a congressman asks whether he plans to run the CIA as he runs his family business, the Texan responds defiantly: “So if you’re asking Senator, if I wish to run a bloated, roguish, government bureaucracy… with the same commitment to excellence that I’ve brought to my company, then the answer is yes.”
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Jerome then appoints his son-in-law, Harry Kellman, as director of operations, charging him with ensuring that the Agency receives value for money from its allies. The parallels with Trump could hardly be clearer.
Kellman wastes no time making his mark. At a critical moment in a perilous operation to extract an asset from Tehran, he cuts off aid to Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service — apparently known internally as SIS, rather than MI6.
The decision has disastrous consequences, setting up a full-scale confrontation between two intelligence agencies that are meant to be working as allies.
Cue a first appearance by the Daily Mail. ‘CIA leaves MI6 agent to die in Iran,’ blares the front-page headline. The significance of the story is not lost on Artemis Procter, who has made a miraculous return to power after spending some months on what could have been described as gardening leave if it hadn’t involved her spending the time alligator-wrestling on her cousin’s ‘alligator-focused tourist-trap’ in Florida.
‘The Daily Mail is kind of a character in London Station,’ McCloskey (pictured) said when he visited the Mail’s offices this week
Following her appointment as Chief of London Station, the Mail has become her newspaper of choice.
As McCloskey told me when he dropped into the Daily Mail office earlier this week: ‘Procter is the kind of person who wants to know what’s going on in the world and she wants a lot of the fun stuff, too. And so I wanted the information to get leaked to her favourite British press outlet, and the answer I came up with was the Daily Mail.’
In his novel it doesn’t take long for the Americans to conclude that the story had been leaked to the Mail by a source close to the head of MI6 or a senior figure in Whitehall, and Jerome is incensed.
But – spoiler alert – not half as mad as he is 50 pages later when the Mail breaks an even more incendiary scoop.
‘The Daily Mail is kind of a character in London Station,’ says McCloskey. ‘One of the major sub-plots of this novel.’
This newspaper becomes a key part of the ‘information battle’ between the CIA and MI6. As McCloskey says: ‘Lo and behold, who gets the scoop? The Daily Mail. And the fallout from this Daily Mail piece really drives almost the entirety of the action and leads the CIA director to do some really wild and kinetic things in retaliation.’
He adds: ‘I think one of the biggest myths about the world of espionage is the superhero spy: well-armed, much more attractive than your average person, drinking martinis, all those kind of tropes.
‘Those stories are very interesting, they’re quite fun, but when you actually look at the world of the spy business and what they’re doing day to day, it just bears no resemblance at all to reality.’
That said, all great espionage thrillers tend to rely on a memorable central protagonist, and Procter – whose Russian is described as ‘fluent’ and her English as ‘profane’ – has matured into one of the most distinctive characters in the spy fiction genre.
McCloskey fans know her as a vodka-swilling hard-ass, but in London Station she is off the booze, replacing it with an addiction to energy drinks and candy. She still keeps a shotgun in her office, however.
McCloskey’s particular brand of genius is that he combines first-hand experience of the spy game with a novelist’s eye for detail and a playwright’s ear for dialogue.
You couldn’t ask for a more sure-footed guide to the murky world of espionage and the struggle for supremacy between the world’s great powers.
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Joe Manganiello’s Feud With Ex-Wife Sofia Vergara Explodes
Joe Manganiello has reignited tensions with his ex-wife, Sofia Vergara, with explosive new claims about her alleged conduct during his seven-year struggle with a life-threatening autoimmune disease.
Manganiello, 49, and Vergara, 54, ended their seven-year marriage in July 2023. The former couple have since offered conflicting accounts of whether disagreements about starting a family contributed to their breakup.
In his upcoming memoir, Bloodlines, the True Blood star details the collapse of their relationship, alleging that their marriage became “devoid of any emotionality whatsoever” as his illness worsened and ultimately resulted in the “major organ amputation.”
An excerpt from the memoir, which will be released on October 13 and was obtained by People, says Manganiello’s health began deteriorating soon after he married Vergara in 2015.
He describes suffering “excruciating abdominal pain” that left him unable to walk as his digestive tract ulcerated, alongside fevers, blistering rashes, headaches, exhaustion and rectal bleeding.
The illness caused him to lose 60 pounds and undergo emergency surgery in 2016 to have part of his intestines removed, leaving him reliant on an ostomy bag.
Joe Manganiello has reignited tensions with ex-wife Sofia Vergara through explosive new claims about her alleged behavior during his seven-year battle with an autoimmune disease. They are pictured in 2020
Manganiello wrote that his pain became so severe in 2019 that he considered ending his life. He said adopting his chihuahua, Bubbles, helped give him a new sense of purpose, although he claims Vergara mocked the dog
Manganiello, who said he considers himself “lucky to be alive,” recalled that medications commonly prescribed for Crohn’s disease and colitis failed to relieve his symptoms. He said he was “forced” to use hydrocodone pills, fentanyl patches and marijuana, despite having maintained sobriety for 13 years.
He wrote that the severity of his pain led him to consider suicide in 2019, around the time he adopted Bubbles, his chihuahua.
As he searched urgently for effective treatment, Manganiello claims his marriage became “devoid of any emotionality whatsoever.” He also alleges that Vergara “refused to hug him even when he begged.”
He further claims that Vergara made fun of him because of Bubbles.
“I had to give my gun away because I kept thinking about it, and then the dog came. I went from being the patient to the caretaker,” he said.
Manganiello also renewed his denial of Vergara’s previous explanation to Spanish newspaper El País that their marriage ended because he wanted children while she did not.
He claims his illness ultimately led him to abandon plans to start a family with Vergara after unsuccessful IVF attempts. The couple had reportedly discussed using egg donors, but Manganiello said he “didn’t want to die and leave Vergara with a child who wasn’t biologically hers.”
The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Vergara and Manganiello for comment but has not yet received a response.
Vergara announced her divorce from Manganiello in July 2023.
Manganiello claims Vergara “refused to hug him even when he begged” as he endured his painful illness. The former couple are pictured in 2023
“I had to give my gun away because I kept thinking about it, and then the dog came. I went from being the patient to the caretaker,” Manganiello said
Just two days after the couple announced their separation, Manganiello filed for divorce, listing July 2 as their date of separation.
The reason for the end of their marriage was cited as ‘irreconcilable differences.’
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However, in January 2024, Vergara told El País that she and Manganiello called it quits because he wanted kids and she did not. She is a mom to son Manolo, 35, who she welcomed during her first marriage to Joe Gonzalez, which ended in 1993.
‘I didn’t want to be an old mom,’ she said. ‘I feel it’s not fair to the baby. I respect whoever does it, but that’s not for me anymore.’
She continued: ‘I had a son at 19, who is now 32, and I’m ready to be a grandmother, not a mother. So, if love comes along, he has to come with [his own] children.’
Manganiello later disputed those claims in a Men’s Journal article in July 2024.
Manganiello is now engaged to Caitlin O’Connor, 37, above in 2024. The actor is open to starting a family with her, writing, ‘If that’s meant for me. For seven years I thought I was going to be dead the next week. The world has opened back up to me’
His health woes led to him dropping 60lbs and having part of his intestines removed in a 2016 emergency surgery, leaving him dependent on an ostomy bag. Above, in 2023
The actor, above in 2015’s Magic Mike XXL, said earlier this year he had been dealing with ‘a cascade of autoimmune-related illnesses’ that wreaked havoc on his skin, thyroid, eyes, lungs, and digestive system
Manganiello’s memoir is set for release on October 13
‘There’s been a lot said in the press about me wanting a family. That’s simply not true,’ he told the publication. ‘We did try to have a family for the first year and a half.’
Manganiello is now engaged to Caitlin O’Connor, 37, and the actor is open to starting a family with her, writing, ‘If that’s meant for me. For seven years I thought I was going to be dead the next week. The world has opened back up to me.’
Manganiello credits his recovery to seeking alternative treatment – visiting a Santa Monica shaman, who told him generational trauma was to blame due to his great-grandmother losing nine of her children in the Armenian genocide.
He is now off medication and no longer in pain after undergoing surgery to reconnect his digestive tract.
In June, Manganiello first revealed the debilitating ‘deadly mystery illness’ that afflicted him in recent years and led to a ‘life-saving organ amputation.’
In an Instagram video, the Magic Mike actor revealed that the treatments he was prescribed for the illness, which he has not yet disclosed, had their own ‘brutal side effects.’
He also clarified just how private he kept his illness, saying that he ‘suffered in silence, battling a deadly mystery illness’ while only sharing the details with a small group of people closest to him.
Manganiello battled crushing uncertainty, as he was left without answers about what set off his health issues despite seeing ‘the best doctors in the world.’
‘All their attempts to treat it with high-powered biological drugs only exacerbated my symptoms and then unlocked a host of brutal side effects that winded up plaguing me for years,’ he continued.
If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US on 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org
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6-Year-Old Filmed Threatening Cops After Shooting His Teacher
Newly released body-camera video captures the disturbing aftermath of a six-year-old shooting his teacher inside a Virginia elementary school classroom.
Recorded at Richneck Elementary School on January 6, 2023, the footage shows the boy, identified only as J. T., sitting on the lap of reading specialist Amy Kovac as police officers surrounded them.
The child had taken his mother’s 9mm handgun to school and fired at first-grade teacher Abigail Zwerner, striking her in the left hand and upper left chest.
In the video, obtained by the Virginian-Pilot and released publicly for the first time in three years, the boy shouts profanities as officers attempt to place him in handcuffs.
Officer Brian Torrez’s body camera recorded J. T. making a defiant remark while Kovac held him on her lap: “I don’t care if I go to jail, b****.”
After the officer asked for his name, the six-year-old challenged police, saying, “If you want a piece of me, come get it!”
The boy also pointed to the firearm used in the shooting and said, “I stole that from my mom.”
He continued to taunt officers, adding, “I don’t care if you call back up, I don’t care if I go to jail, b****,” according to the footage.
The Newport News Police Department released body-camera footage earlier this week from the Richneck Elementary School shooting.
“If you want a piece of me, come get it,” the six-year-old says in the body-camera video released by police.
The footage shows reading specialist Amy Kovac holding the boy until officers arrived.
First-grade teacher Abigail Zwerner was shot in the chest and hand after the boy brought his mother’s gun to school and opened fire.
As she restrained him, Kovac told the child, “We know you know that language, and you know that’s not appropriate. Mrs. Kovac is not happy with that.”
The recording was made moments after the shooting, which left Zwerner with broken bones and a punctured lung.
Zwerner and the other students escaped the classroom. Kovac then entered and found the boy alone, with the gun lying on the floor beside him, the outlet reported.
After escorting the students to the school office, Kovac collapsed shortly afterward.
She remained with the boy until officers arrived and continued holding him as police questioned him, the video shows.
Search warrants reviewed by CBS state that the boy also said he had “shot that b***** dead” while officers restrained him.
Zwerner later filed a $40 million lawsuit against assistant principal Ebony Parker, alleging that Parker failed to act on repeated warnings from Zwerner and other teachers about the student’s violent behavior.
Criminal charges were previously brought against Parker in connection with the shooting, but they were dismissed in May of this year after she pleaded not guilty.
She had been accused of failing to take any action to protect Zwerner or students after being warned multiple times about the six-year-old’s aggression.
Zwerner – the teacher who was shot by the young boy – testified that she told Parker about the boy’s ‘violent mood’ that day
Parker, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, had been accused of failing to take any action to protect Zwerner or students
Judge Rebecca Robinson dismissed the case against Parker, claiming the former assistant principal did not break the law.
‘If [Parker’s actions] are meant to amount to a crime, the legislature will need to codify it,’ the judge said.
‘Therefore, I do grant the defense motion to strike in full on all counts, all eight counts of felony child abuse and endangerment.’
Parker sobbed in court as the judge spoke, then walked out of the courthouse without speaking to reporters.
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Zwerner’s family issued a statement to the media saying she is ready to put this incident behind her.
‘We are happy that this tragic event is behind Abby,’ the statement, sent by Karen Piere, Abby’s aunt, said.
‘As devastating as this shooting was, may it bring change to the education system in our country so that violent children are not placed in a general education classroom, and I hope that administrators are held accountable if this were to happen again for violent behavior.’
Zwerner had testified in court that she told Parker about the boy’s ‘violent mood’ that day. She had also heard from Kovac that the child may have had a firearm.
The teacher said that Kovac went to report this to Parker. Later, at recess, Zwerner said she noticed that the boy was wearing an oversized jacket and holding his hands in his pockets for the whole time.
While at recess, the boy stared down the school security officer while Zwerner talked to her, she testified.
‘I witnessed the student was staring her down, very focused on her and he slowly got up from his seat and ever so slowly approached, still not breaking eye contact at the security officer and that stuck out to me as well,’ she said on the stand.
When they were back in class, the boy approached her with the gun in hand, she testified. She was then shot through her hand and chest, which led to permanent physical injuries.
‘I saw the student looking at me. I looked over. A gun was pointed right at me. He was holding a gun, the student. It was pointed right at me. And then I was shot,’ she said.
Last November, Parker was ordered to pay Zwerner $10 million in a gross negligence lawsuit, before her criminal charges were dropped.
In that lawsuit, Zwerner detailed telling Parker that the boy was in a violent mood, had threatened to beat up a kindergartener, and stared down a security officer in the lunchroom.
It also alleged that Parker had no response, refusing even to look up when Zwerner expressed her concerns.
When concerns were raised that the child may have transferred the gun from his backpack to his pocket, Parker said his ‘pockets were too small to hold a handgun and did nothing,’ the lawsuit states.
A guidance counselor also asked Parker for permission to search the boy, but Parker forbade him and stated that John Doe’s mother would be arriving soon to pick him up, the lawsuit stated.
Deja Taylor, the boy’s mother, seen arriving at federal court for a previous hearing on June 12, 2023, in Virginia Beach, Virginia
Zwerner was sitting at a reading table in front of the class when the boy fired the gun, police said.
She spent nearly two weeks in the hospital and has endured multiple surgeries as well as ongoing emotional trauma, according to her lawsuit.
Zwerner also claimed to not have full use of her left hand. A bullet also remains in her chest from the ordeal.
The shooting also occurred on the student’s first day back in the classroom after he was suspended for slamming Zwerner’s phone.
The boy’s mother, Deja Taylor, pleaded guilty to felony child neglect and was sentenced to two years in prison in 2023 after the shooting at the elementary school.
That was a harsher sentence than the six months prosecutors recommended as part of a plea deal that saw her misdemeanor charge for reckless firearm storage dropped.
The Newport News Circuit judge sentenced Taylor to five years in total, with three years suspended.
Taylor previously pled guilty to using marijuana while owning a gun and was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison in November 2023 on felony gun charges.
Authorities said she lied about her drug use on a federal background check form when she bought the gun that her son brought to school.
Taylor’s son is now in the custody and care of his great-grandfather and attending a new school in the region.
Criminal charges were never filed against the student.
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