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Bodycam video shows 6-year-old cursing at police after 2023 Virginia school shooting

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 8 outlets, mostly right-leaning (75%).

13 articles in total, 3 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

Newly unsealed body camera footage from the January 6, 2023 shooting at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, shows the 6-year-old boy who shot his teacher, Abby Zwerner, cursing at and threatening police and a school employee who restrained him. The footage, from Officer Brian Torrez's bodycam and obtained by the Virginian-Pilot, shows the boy saying he stole the 9mm handgun from his mother and that he did not care if he went to jail. Zwerner was shot in the hand and chest and was later awarded $10 million after a jury found that a former assistant principal ignored warnings that the child had brought a gun to school.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. Newly unsealed bodycam footage from the Jan. 6, 2023 shooting at Richneck Elementary School shows the 6-year-old boy cursing at and threatening police and a school employee after shooting his teacher.

    Across the spectrumReported byLeft2Right2Far Right6See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    NBC News, CBS News
    Right
    New York Post, Daily Mail
    Far Right
    Just the News, The Daily Wire, The Daily Caller, Hot Air, RedState, The Western Journal

  2. The boy told officers he stole the 9mm Taurus handgun from his mother.

    One side only: the rightReported byRight1Far Right4See the outletsHide the outlets
    Right
    Daily Mail
    Far Right
    Just the News, The Daily Wire, RedState, The Western Journal

  3. Teacher Abby Zwerner was shot in the hand and chest; the bullet reportedly remains in her chest.

    Reported byLeft1Right2Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    NBC News
    Right
    New York Post, Daily Mail
    Far Right
    Hot Air

  4. A jury awarded Zwerner $10 million in damages after finding that former assistant principal Ebony Parker ignored warnings that the child had a gun in his backpack.

    Reported byLeft1Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    NBC News
    Far Right
    Just the News, The Western Journal

  5. The footage came from Officer Brian Torrez's bodycam and was obtained by the Virginian-Pilot after a court unsealed it.

    One side only: the rightReported byRight2Far Right4See the outletsHide the outlets
    Right
    New York Post, Daily Mail
    Far Right
    Just the News, The Daily Wire, The Daily Caller, RedState

  6. The boy's mother, Dejah Taylor, was later sentenced to nearly four years in prison for drug use and lying on her gun-purchase application.

    One outletHot Air· Far Right

How each side tells it

Compare views

  • the left

    2 outlets

    Left-leaning outlets describe the footage more plainly as newly released video showing the aftermath of the shooting, with one outlet quoting the boy's defiant remark in its headline.

    Astonishing video shows moments after 6-year-old shot a Virginia teacher
    CBS NewsLeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    No coverage yet

    No center outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.

  • the right

    6 outlets · 2 opinion

    Most right-leaning outlets lead with the boy's profanity and threats, often quoting his exact words in the headline for shock effect, while two outlets (Hot Air and a second Daily Wire piece) frame the video as evidence of broader failures in public schools.

    6-year-old curses at cops in newly unsealed bodycam after shooting teacher in Virginia classroom
    New York PostRightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Center

    Has not covered this story.

  • Right13

    defiantly cursingperpetratorFoul-MouthedChilling Admission

In the outlets’ own words

  • Loaded modifier

    defiantly cursingMore neutral: cursing

    Characterizes the child's behavior with a judgmental adverb rather than neutrally describing the act.

    …Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Va., showed the 6-year-old suspect defiantly cursing at police and admitting he had stolen the firearm from his mother.

    Used byJust the News (Far Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    perpetratorMore neutral: child involved in the shooting

    Labels a six-year-old with a term implying criminal culpability rather than a neutral descriptor.

    Bodycam footage released on Tuesday showed a 6-year-old perpetrator swearing at teachers and police officers after shooting Richneck Elementary School…

    Used byThe Daily Wire (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    Foul-MouthedMore neutral: cursing

    Adds a dramatic, judgmental label rather than neutrally describing the behavior.

    Bodycam Shows Foul-Mouthed 6-Year-Old Cursing Out Cops After Shooting Teacher

    Used byThe Daily Wire (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    Chilling AdmissionMore neutral: statement

    Uses dramatic language to characterize the boy's statement rather than describing it neutrally.

    ‘Y’all Want A Piece Of Me?’: Bodycam Captures 6-Year-Old’s Chilling Admission After Shooting Teacher

    Used byThe Daily Caller (Far Right)

Show 9 more phrasesShow fewer

  • Sensational language

    really shocking partMore neutral: notable part

    Adds dramatic emphasis rather than stating the fact plainly.

    The really shocking part of the story was who carried out the shooting.

    Used byHot Air (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    my God, How Is This Real?More neutral: shows disturbing scene

    Uses exclamatory, dramatic phrasing to editorialize on the footage rather than describing it neutrally.

    Bodycam of the 6-Year-Old Who Shot His Teacher Just Dropped and My God, How Is This Real?

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    disturbing bodycam videoMore neutral: bodycam video

    Adds a subjective, dramatic label to the video rather than describing its content neutrally.

    Boy, 6, yells ‘f–k you bitch’ after shooting teacher in chest in disturbing bodycam video: ‘Don’t care if I go to jail’

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Sensational language

    Jaw-droppingMore neutral: newly released

    Uses hyperbolic language to characterize the footage rather than a neutral description.

    Jaw-dropping new bodycam shows boy, 6, curse and threaten cops moments after he shot his teacher…

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

  • Absolutist framing

    he wasn’t getting the discipline he wasn’t getting from his parentsMore neutral: commentary suggested a lack of parental discipline

    States a speculative judgment about the child's upbringing as settled fact.

    At least we now know he wasn’t getting the discipline he wasn’t getting from his parents in the classroom, either.

    Used byThe Western Journal (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    Screaming ObscenitiesMore neutral: shouting obscenities

    Uses dramatic, judgmental phrasing rather than a neutral description of the behavior.

    Watch: New Bodycam Footage Shows Boy, 6, Screaming Obscenities at Cops After Shooting His Teacher in the Chest

    Used byThe Western Journal (Far Right)

  • Absolutist framing

    almost as if she was trying to protect him from the policeMore neutral: was seen holding the child as officers arrived

    Presents a speculative interpretation of the employee's actions as if it were an established fact.

    …employee (a “reading specialist”) was holding the child — almost as if she was trying to protect him from the police, even though he clearly posed a danger to her (and everyone…

    Used byThe Daily Wire (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    Shocking Bodycam FootageMore neutral: New bodycam footage

    Uses a dramatic adjective to characterize the footage rather than describing it neutrally.

    Shocking Bodycam Footage Reveals How Bad Public Schools Are Now

    Used byThe Daily Wire (Far Right)

  • Absolutist framing

    How Bad Public Schools Are NowMore neutral: raises questions about school safety

    Presents a sweeping, contested judgment about public schools as an established conclusion from a single incident.

    Shocking Bodycam Footage Reveals How Bad Public Schools Are Now

    Used byThe Daily Wire (Far Right)

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

2 outlets

Leads with

  • Zwerner's injuries and medical details
  • the civil trial and $10 million verdict
  • the assistant principal's negligence finding

Leaves out

  • the mother's drug use and prison sentence
  • detailed quotes of the boy's profanity toward the reading specialist

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 2 headlines from the leftHide the headlines

From the center

0 outlets

No center outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.

From the right

6 outlets · 2 opinion

Leads with

  • the boy's cursing and threats toward officers
  • the graphic nature of the footage
  • school negligence and discipline failures
  • the $10 million verdict against the school (in some outlets)

Leaves out

  • bullet remaining lodged in Zwerner's chest
  • Zwerner's trial testimony about her experience being shot

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 8 headlines from the rightHide the headlines
  • New York PostRight

    6-year-old curses at cops in newly unsealed bodycam after shooting teacher in Virginia classroom

    Newly unsealed bodycam footage captures the chaotic aftermath of the January 2023 shooting at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, showing the then-6-year-old boy cursing at a school employee and responding officers after shooting first-grade teacher Abby …

    Read at New York Post (opens in a new tab)
    1 more from New York Post
  • Daily MailRight

    Sensational language“Jaw-dropping”Uses hyperbolic language to characterize the footage rather than a neutral description.More neutral: newly releasedDisagree with this highlight? new bodycam shows boy, 6, curse and threaten cops moments after he shot his teacher with gun he brought to school

    The child, identified only as J.T., stole his mother's gun and brought it into school, before shooting his first-grade teacher Abigail Zwerner in the left hand and upper left chest.

    Read at Daily Mail (opens in a new tab)
  • RedStateFar Right

    Bodycam of the 6-Year-Old Who Shot His Teacher Just Dropped and Sensational language“My God, How Is This Real?”Uses exclamatory, dramatic phrasing to editorialize on the footage rather than describing it neutrally.More neutral: shows disturbing sceneDisagree with this highlight?

    Bodycam footage unsealed this week from the January 6, 2023, shooting at Richneck Elementary in Newport News shows the 6-year-old who shot his teacher cursing at officers in the classroom.

    Read at RedState (opens in a new tab)
  • The Daily CallerFar Right

    ‘Y’all Want A Piece Of Me?’: Bodycam Captures 6-Year-Old’s Sensational language“Chilling Admission”Uses dramatic language to characterize the boy's statement rather than describing it neutrally.More neutral: statementDisagree with this highlight? After Shooting Teacher

    Recently unsealed video shows bodycam footage of officers responding to a six-year-old boy after he shot his teacher. The video, released by Newport News police Tuesday, shows officers and sheriff’s deputies arriving at the first-grade classroom in 2023 to find the child, …

    Read at The Daily Caller (opens in a new tab)
  • The Daily WireFar Right

    Bodycam Shows Sensational language“Foul-Mouthed”Adds a dramatic, judgmental label rather than neutrally describing the behavior.More neutral: cursingDisagree with this highlight? 6-Year-Old Cursing Out Cops After Shooting Teacher

    Bodycam footage released on Tuesday showed a 6-year-old Loaded modifier“perpetrator”Labels a six-year-old with a term implying criminal culpability rather than a neutral descriptor.More neutral: child involved in the shootingDisagree with this highlight? swearing at teachers and police officers after shooting Richneck Elementary School teacher Abby Zwerner in Newport News, Virginia, in 2023. …

    Read at The Daily Wire (opens in a new tab)
    1 more from The Daily Wire
  • Just the NewsFar Right

    Body cam footage from 2023 shooting by 6-year-old shows kid cursing at police

    "My mom had that! I stole that from my mom!" he declared.

    Read at Just the News (opens in a new tab)
  • The Western JournalFar RightOpinion

    Watch: New Bodycam Footage Shows Boy, 6, Sensational language“Screaming Obscenities”Uses dramatic, judgmental phrasing rather than a neutral description of the behavior.More neutral: shouting obscenitiesDisagree with this highlight? at Cops After Shooting His Teacher in the Chest

    New bodycam footage shows a first-grade student in a Virginia classroom from 2023 swearing at and threatening police officers after he was detained for shooting his teacher. The footage, from

    Read at The Western Journal (opens in a new tab)
  • Hot AirFar RightOpinion

    This Video Explains Everything

    Way back in January 2023, there was a shooting at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia. Only one person was injured and that was teacher Abigail Zwerner. The really shocking part of the story was who carried out the shooting. …

    Read at Hot Air (opens in a new tab)

Articles you open from here build My Mix, a private picture of how your reading spreads across the spectrum, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    8 hr 53 min later

    Its first report, Oct 7, 7:10 PM EDT

  • Center

    No report yet

    From the outlets Mantle follows

  • Right

    First to report

    The Daily Wire, Oct 7, 10:17 AM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. The Daily WireFar RightOct 7, 10:17 AM EDT
  2. The Daily CallerFar RightOct 7, 12:55 PM EDT
  3. RedStateFar RightOct 7, 3:32 PM EDT
  4. New York PostRightOct 7, 3:53 PM EDT
  5. Daily MailRightOct 7, 5:04 PM EDT
  6. NBC NewsLeftOct 7, 7:10 PM EDT
  7. CBS NewsLeftOct 8, 2:56 PM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out. Just the News gave only a date, so it is not placed.

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