Law enforcement and school officials in Newport News, Virginia, are continuing to investigate the events that led up to a school shooting in which a six-year-old shot and critically injured his first-grade teacher in their classroom at Richneck Elementary school last week.

The teacher who has now been identified as 25-year-old Abby Zwerner is still in the hospital recovering. After being admitted with life-threatening injuries, she has since been updated to a stable condition.

According to reports, Zwerner, a graduate of Virginia’s James Madison University, was shot in the abdomen through her hand when the six-year-old fired the gun. Officials detail that the incident was not accidental but have not provided further details on how and why the student shot the handgun.

According to The Guardian, a child in the classroom recounted the moments leading up to the shooting to his mother. The mother shares that her child said that the class was getting ready to go to art when the six-year-old shooter pulled out a gun from his backpack. After the teacher told the child she was going to confiscate the gun, the student fired the weapon. After the shot was fired, the teacher allegedly told the other students to “run,” undoubtedly saving lives in the process. After the gun was fired, authorities quickly rushed to the school and were able to apprehend the six-year-old.

News of the school shooting rocked the community and for many, the incident hit close to home as the area was recently the subject of another mass shooting after a Walmart employee opened gunfire in the shopping store late last year.

The unbelievable school shooting has understandably rocked the nation as many have wondered how a six-year-old was able to get ahold of a weapon, let alone fire it at his teacher. Classes at the elementary school have since been canceled for the beginning of the week as authorities continue to investigate.

Officials have been able to share that the gunshot was the result of an altercation between the six-year-old and his teacher, but they have not elaborated on what exactly the altercation was.

Following the shooting, Virginia's Governor, Glen Younkin, shared a statement that read in part, “My administration has offered assistance in response to the shooting at Richneck elementary school in Newport News and stand at the ready to help in any way we can. I am continuing to monitor the situation and am praying for the continued safety of all students and the community.”

Newport News Public School Superintendent Dr. George Parker also shared that the shooting saddened him and the community. “I’m in shock, and I’m disheartened,” Parker said in a news conference on Friday. “We need to educate our children and we need to keep them safe.”

Unlike other states throughout the nation, Virginia does not have a broad law that requires gun owners to safely store their firearms in their homes. Additionally, Virginia law outlines that a six-year-old cannot be charged as an adult, though it is possible that the student could be criminally charged in juvenile court. However, minors in juvenile court have to be 11 years of age or older in order to be sentenced to juvenile prison in the state.

As the investigation continues to unfold, many are wondering what justice for the teacher looks like, and to what capacity, if any, the parents of the six-year-old shooter should be held liable.