Mom Of Boy, 6, Who Shot VA Teacher Gets Prison Time For Child Neglect

NEWPORT NEWS, VA — The mother of a 6-year-old boy who shot his teacher at a Newport News elementary school earlier this year was sentenced to two years in prison after she pleaded guilty to felony child neglect, according to an NBC News report.

As part of a plea deal, prosecutors had recommended a six-month sentence for 26-year-old Deja Taylor. She faced a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Circuit Court Judge Christopher Papile said the sentencing guidelines did not take into account the psychological and emotional impact the shooting had on first-grade teacher Abigail Zwerner or other students and staff at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News.

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Authorities said Taylor's son took his mother's gun to the school on Jan. 6 and pulled it from his backpack before using it to shoot Zwerner.

Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew has repeatedly characterized the shooting as "intentional," saying the boy aimed at Zwerner and fired one round, striking her in the hand and chest. The shot resulted in severe injuries, including a collapsed lung.

Zwerner spent two weeks in the hospital before she was released.

Taylor’s son told authorities he got his mother’s gun by climbing onto a drawer to reach the top of a dresser, where the firearm was in his mom’s purse. Taylor initially told investigators she had secured her gun with a trigger lock, but investigators said they never found one.

Taylor was charged in April. As part of her plea deal, a misdemeanor charge of recklessly leaving a loaded firearm to endanger a child was dropped, allowing Taylor to avoid a potential six-year prison sentence, reports said.

In addition to the child neglect charge, Taylor also pleaded guilty to federal charges that she lied on a background check to purchase a handgun and used marijuana while in possession of the gun.

Last month, Taylor was sentenced to 21 months in prison for using marijuana while owning a gun.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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