Newport News school shooting: How a 6-year-old got a gun and other questions that remain

Many questions remain after a 6-year-old student allegedly shot and injured a teacher during an altercation at a Newport News, Virginia, elementary school.

Many questions remain unanswered after a 6-year-old student allegedly shot and injured a teacher at a Newport News, Virginia, elementary school.

Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones said in a statement this weekend that police were "working diligently to get an answer to the question we are all asking -- how did this happen?"

PHOTO: Police tape hangs from a sign post outside Richneck Elementary School, January 7, 2023, in Newport News, Virginia.
Police tape hangs from a sign post outside Richneck Elementary School, January 7, 2023, in Newport News, Virginia.
Jay Paul/Getty Images

MORE: Teacher injured in shooting at Virginia elementary school, 6-year-old suspect in custody: Police

What we know

A Richneck Elementary School teacher, described as a woman in her 30s, was shot with a handgun on Friday in a first-grade classroom, police said.

She was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. The mayor told CNN on Sunday that she was in stable condition.

The shooting took place during an altercation between the teacher and the student, police said, without providing more details.

No students were injured and the 6-year-old suspect was taken into custody.

PHOTO: A school sign wishing students a "Happy New Year" is seen outside Richneck Elementary School, Jan. 7, 2023, in Newport News, Virginia.
A school sign wishing students a "Happy New Year" is seen outside Richneck Elementary School, Jan. 7, 2023, in Newport News, Virginia.
Jay Paul/Getty Images

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The gun

Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew said officials were looking into how the 6-year-old obtained the handgun.

Authorities haven't made public who owns the gun or how the 6-year-old got the gun into the school.

A motive has also not been released. Authorities haven't elaborated on the altercation between the student and teacher but the police chief told reporters Friday that the shooting was not accidental.

PHOTO: A empty basketball court is seen outside Richneck Elementary School, Jan. 7, 2023, in Newport News, Virginia.
A empty basketball court is seen outside Richneck Elementary School, Jan. 7, 2023, in Newport News, Virginia.
Jay Paul/Getty Images

The 6-year-old

The mayor didn't release where the 6-year-old is being held but he told The Associated Press, "We are ensuring he has all the services that he currently needs right now."

Asked by CNN on Sunday what will happen next for the suspect and if the 6-year-old's parents could be held responsible, the mayor replied, "There's a lot of questions that we have to answer."

"Because it remains an investigation, we're going to let itself work out before we rush to judgment at this time," Jones said. "The individuals responsible will be held accountable -- I can promise that."

ABC News' Meredith Deliso, Ivan Pereira and Ben Siu contributed to this report.

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