Virginia Teacher Shot By 6-Year-Old Speaks Out: 'I Thought I Was Dead'

A U.S. teacher who was shot by a six-year-old student said she will never forget the look on the boy's face when he aimed the gun at her.

The first time Abigail Zwerner has spoken in front of the general public since being wounded on Jan. 6 by a young child in a primary school.

The 25-year-old instructor described the terrible incident that took place at Richneck Elementary School in the Virginia city of Newport News.

She said, "I thought I had died," on this week's Today program on NBC.

Journalist Savannah Guthrie questioned Ms. Zwerner about the day in the interview that aired on Tuesday.

"The morning it felt like just a regular school day, but I started hearing things and things started happening that made my fear grow," Ms. Zwerner said.

Police have said the child brought the gun in his backpack to the school, reports BBC.

After being shot in the hand and upper chest following what officers described as an "altercation" with the first-grader, Ms. Zwerner intends to file a lawsuit against the school district.

The teacher's attorney has filed a notification of intent to sue, alleging that despite repeated warnings that the student was in possession of a gun, the school did not act appropriately.

According to Ms. Zwerner, she is certain that she saw the gun aimed in her direction.

"I remember the look on his face. I remember feeling something. It was a pretty scary day."

Ms. Guthrie inquired about Ms. Zwerner's left hand, which was captured on video being wrapped in medical gauze.

"The initial gunshot went through my left hand and ruptured the middle bone as well as the index finger and the thumb. The gunshot then went into my chest up here where it actually still remains," she said while pointing just above her heart. "So, I have a scar up here, and I still have some bullet fragments up here."

Ms. Zwerner said doctors at the hospital told her the gunshot wound "could've been fatal" but since the bullet went through her hand it "most likely saved my life".

Ms. Zwerner recalled that her first concerns following being shot were for the protection of her students.

Despite her injuries, she led them out of the classroom before being taken to the hospital in an ambulance.

The child would not be charged, Newport News Commonwealth's Attorney Howard Gwynn stated earlier this month.

According to him, a six-year-old cannot comprehend the legal system and the idea that they can stand trial is "problematic," he told NBC News.

The young boy's family, who have not been prosecuted either, claimed that he had an "acute disability" and infrequently went to school without one of his parents.

He had gone to school by himself on the day of the attack, though.

The mother of the child legally bought the firearm, according to the police.

The superintendent of the school was dismissed following the incident, and the assistant principal resigned.

Since then, metal detectors and full-time security have been added at Richneck Elementary School.

Ms. Zwerner stated in the NBC interview that she occasionally experiences nightmares related to the attack and that on some days, the challenging recovery makes it difficult for her to get out of bed.

"I'm not sure when the shock will ever go away... I think about it daily."