Mother Of Boy, 6, Who Shot VA Teacher Was Depressed, Attorney Says

>> MAY 10, 2023 UPDATE: Boy, 6, Who Shot VA Teacher Had ADHD; Mom Claims Responsibility

NEWPORT NEWS, VA — The mother of the 6-year-old boy who police said shot his teacher at a Newport News elementary school had a series of miscarriages and post-partum depression in the year before the shooting, according to her attorney.

Deja Taylor, 25, turned herself in to police Thursday, three days after authorities announced she would be charged with felony child neglect and failing to secure the handgun her son used to shoot Richneck Elementary School teacher Abigail Zwerner.

Newport News police confirmed the arrest in a news release. Taylor was released on a $5,000 bond after turning herself in.

Police have accused Taylor's 6-year-old son of shooting Zwerner inside a classroom on Jan. 6. Police said the boy took his mother's 9mm handgun to school, pulled it from his backpack, and used 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 lung collapse.

Taylor's attorney, James Ellenson, said the mother believed her legally-purchased gun was secured on a top shelf in her closet and had a trigger lock. It is unclear how the boy got the gun and was able to take it to school on the day of the shooting.

Taylor appeared somber and stood with her hands clasped behind her back as the two charges against her were read at her Friday arraignment. She did not speak except to say "no, sir" in response to a question from the judge. After the hearing, she quickly walked away from a scrum of reporters and TV cameras without commenting.

Her attorney, James Ellenson, said his client wants to reach a plea agreement with prosecutors and hopes they will consider what he called "mitigating circumstances." He cited several miscarriages Taylor had, including one following an ectopic pregnancy that resulted in a hospital stay in January 2022. Ellenson said the miscarriages resulted in post-partum depression.

"We're looking forward to working collaboratively with the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office to resolve the charges," Ellenson said, adding that he is hoping for "something that is fair, something that is just."

Ellenson requested a trial before a judge instead of a jury. A trial date of Aug. 15 was set.

Zwerner has filed a $40 million lawsuit alleging the school's administrators ignored multiple warnings that the boy posed a threat, according to the lawsuit obtained by NBC News and information shared by her lawyers in a television interview last week.

Zwerner's complaint, filed in the Newport News Circuit Court, says Richneck Assistant Principal Ebony Parker chose to "breach her assumed duty" to protect Zwerner "despite multiple reports that a firearm was on school property and likely in possession of a violent individual," according to NBC News.

Zwerner also alleges that school officials knew the boy "had a history of random violence" at school and home, including that he "strangled and choked" his kindergarten teacher.

In a statement released shortly after the shooting, the boy's family said their son suffers from an acute disability and was under a care plan at the school, including his mother or father attending school with him and accompanying him to class every day.

According to the family, the week of the shooting was the first that a parent was not in class with him.

"We will regret our absence on this day for the rest of our lives," the family said.

After the shooting, the boy was taken to a medical facility where he was receiving unspecified services.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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