[ti:Officials Consider How to Treat a Child Who Shot His Teacher] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.04]A six-year-old student shot his teacher in a classroom [00:05.32]in the American state of Virginia last week. [00:09.80]Police Chief Steve Drew of Newport News, Virginia [00:14.24]told reporters Monday that there was no fight, [00:18.64]no physical struggle, and no warning. [00:21.92]"What we know today is that she was providing instruction. [00:27.12]He displayed a firearm; he pointed it, [00:31.00]and he fired one round," Drew said. [00:35.36]The police chief said the teacher, 25-year-old Abby Zwerner, [00:41.24]put her hand up to defend herself. [00:44.88]The bullet went through her hand and into her upper chest. [00:50.16]Her injuries were first thought to be life-threatening. [00:54.48]But her condition has since improved [00:58.04]and she is in stable condition at a hospital. [01:03.16]Drew also said that the boy used a 9mm handgun in the shooting. [01:09.48]The gun was legally purchased by his mother [01:13.32]and was in the family's home. [01:16.04]He said the boy brought it to school [01:19.08]in his backpack the day of the shooting. [01:23.36]Drew praised Zwerner for quickly moving her students [01:27.80]out of the classroom after she was shot. [01:31.20]He said a recorded video at the school [01:35.44]shows she was the last person to leave her classroom. [01:39.92]Drew said: "She turned around [01:42.96]to make sure every one of those students was safe." [01:47.64]A school employee went into the classroom [01:50.92]and restrained the boy after hearing the gunshot. [01:55.32]Drew said the boy became "a little combative" [01:59.56]and struck the employee. [02:02.52]Police officers then arrived and brought him to a medical center [02:07.80]under an emergency legal action. [02:10.96]A judge will decide what the next steps are for the boy. [02:17.48]Police have also talked with the boy's mother. [02:21.28]It is unclear whether she could face any charges. [02:26.76]As questions remained about the boy and his mother, [02:31.24]a crowd gathered Monday night in Newport News [02:34.92]to show support for the teacher. [02:38.36]Lauren Palladini works with Zwerner [02:42.24]at Richneck Elementary School. [02:45.68]She told the crowd that Zwerner is "sweet. [02:49.64]She's thoughtful. She's caring. [02:52.76]And she's been one of the most amazing teachers [02:56.44]that I've been blessed to interact with." [03:01.04]Amanda Bartley, who teaches at another elementary school [03:05.56]in Newport News, asked everyone to pray for Zwerner [03:10.96]and to "pray for the young man who did this." [03:15.16]Bartley told The Associated Press [03:18.16]that many questions remain unanswered. [03:21.52]Among them: "How did he get the gun? Why wasn't it locked up? [03:27.20]A good gun owner knows that you lock up your weapon. [03:32.36]You have a safety on. [03:34.76]You keep the ammunition separate from the weapon itself." [03:40.76]Gun owners can be charged under a Virginia law [03:44.48]for leaving a loaded, unsecured gun [03:47.72]that could harm or injure children under the age of 14. [03:52.88]However, the state does not have laws giving details [03:58.28]on how an unattended gun should be stored [04:01.88]or requiring gun owners to lock up their weapons. [04:07.68]Allison Anderman is the director of local policy [04:12.60]at Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, [04:16.52]a non-profit group. [04:19.96]She said, "Virginia definitely has a weaker law [04:24.56]than many other states that have child access prevention laws." [04:30.20]Legal experts said it is possible under Virginia law [04:36.04]to criminally charge a 6-year-old child. [04:39.84]But they believe it is highly unlikely [04:43.16]that any government lawyer would even try. [04:48.08]To be tried as an adult in Virginia, [04:51.24]a person must be at least 14. [04:55.36]In addition, common law in the U.S. [04:58.92]known as the "infancy defense" [05:02.12]holds that children under seven [05:05.00]cannot be charged with a crime. [05:07.68]The belief is that they are so young [05:11.48]that they cannot form criminal intent. [05:15.68]A judge would also have to find that a six-year-old [05:20.52]could understand the legal action against him [05:24.20]and assist in his own defense, said Andrew Block. [05:28.84]He is a professor at the University of Virginia School of Law [05:34.56]who was the director of Virginia's Department [05:37.64]of Juvenile Justice from 2014 to 2019. [05:44.12]"It's virtually impossible to imagine a 6-year-old [05:48.12]being found competent to stand trial," Block said. [05:53.76]Julie E. McConnell, a law professor [05:57.04]at the University of Richmond in Virginia, [06:00.44]has worked on youth legal cases for more than 25 years. [06:05.76]She said government lawyers can appeal in cases [06:10.68]that affect the child's well-being and physical safety. [06:15.84]A judge could then order services [06:19.20]to deal with the child's behavior [06:22.04]or parent's cooperation in treatment. [06:26.04]The judge could also send a child to live with a relative, [06:30.48]a child welfare agency, or a local social services agency. [06:37.92]I'm Mario Ritter, Jr. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM