A Virginia mother is now facing charges of child neglect after her 6-year-old son shot his teacher at Richneck Elementary School earlier this year. The boy’s mother, who has not been named, was indicted on Wednesday and charged in connection with the shooting.

Families of students at the school reacted with shock and disappointment upon hearing the news. Some expressed concern that the boy’s mother may have been aware of her son’s access to a firearm and failed to take appropriate measures to prevent such an incident from occurring.

According to reports, the boy brought the gun to school in his backpack and it accidentally discharged during class, striking the teacher in the leg. The teacher was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and has since recovered.

The incident prompted a wave of discussions about gun safety and the need for stricter laws regarding access to firearms. In the wake of the shooting, schools in the area have implemented new security measures and increased efforts to educate students and families about the dangers of guns.

The mother is set to appear in court later this month on the negligence charges, which carry a possible penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Meanwhile, the school community continues to grapple with the aftermath of the incident and seek ways to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.