First District Congressman Bobby Scott held a roundtable in Newport News Tuesday in the wake of the shooting at Richneck Elementary School.
The panel heard from researchers who said money going to metal detectors being installed in all of the Newport News schools would be better spent on mental health.
Superintendent George Parker defended the metal detectors but added that's on top of mental health services.
“We continue to work on our youth development initiatives,” he said. “We've hired behavior coaches, we've hired mental health professionals to support our teachers and our staff. Many things other than just simply metal detection.”
Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew said the department is still looking into the events surrounding the shooting at Richneck Elementary School earlier this month.
He told our media partners at WTKR, “If there's any human services or child protective services case files or any interactions with the family...the same thing with the schools...we've asked for those records, to see if there are any behavioral issues.”
No charges have been filed in relation to the shooting. The wounded teacher, 25-year-old Abby Zwerner, continues to recover.