Mother of Virginia 6-year-old who shot his teacher arrested for felony child neglect
The mother of a 6-year-old Virginia boy who used her gun to blast his teacher in the chest has been arrested.
Authorities announced Monday that Deja Taylor, 25, had been indicted in connection with the Jan. 6 shooting that left educator Abigail Zwerner seriously injured. Taylor is accused of felony child neglect and failure to secure her firearm.
Newport News police said Taylor turned herself in Thursday morning. She was booked, processed and released a few hours later after posting $5,000 bond, the Daily Press reported.
Her son — whose history of troubled behavior included choking a kindergarten teacher — was not charged in Zwerner’s shooting.
The victim filed a $40 million lawsuit against Richneck Elementary School last week, claiming administrators failed to address teachers’ concerns that the shooter was in a “violent mood” the day he brought a 9-mm handgun to class and fired it at his 25-year-old instructor.
According to that suit, the child’s parents did not want him placed in special education classes for children with behavioral issues. He was said to attend classes under an arrangement that usually had a parent accompanying him to school.
Taylor’s firearm was legally purchased. A lawyer for the defendant claims that gun was on the top shelf of a closet and had a trigger lock. Taylor faces a maximum of five years in prison if convicted on the felony charge against her.
With News Wire Services
