Deja Taylor: Mom of Virginia boy, 6, who shot his school teacher Abigail Zwerner arrested for child neglect and weapon-related charges
NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA: Mother of the 6-year-old boy who shot his school teacher Abigail Zwerner has been arrested for child neglect and weapon-related charges. Deja Taylor turned herself in to the police and was released from jail after she posted a bond amount of $5,000.
The Newport News Police Department has formally charged the 25-year-old with a misdemeanor count of recklessly leaving a loaded firearm to endanger a child and a felony child neglect charge. Taylor's attorney James Ellenson said, "She is nervous and scared because she has never been charged before, but is holding up well." She is scheduled to appear in court on Friday, April 14, for a status hearing, reported New York Post.
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Abigail Zwerner: Virginia teacher shot by first-grader files $40 million lawsuit against school
What happened on the day of shooting?
On January 6, the 6-year-old Virginia boy shot and injured his first-grade teacher while she was sitting inside the classroom at Richneck Elementary School. According to investigators, the child gunman shot Zwerner using his mother's legally purchased weapon. Taylor's attorney previously stated that the mother secured the gun on a top shelf inside her closet which had a trigger lock.
Following the horrifying shooting, the 25-year-old teacher filed a $40 million lawsuit against the school and accused the school officials of ignoring several warnings about the 6-year-old boy's possession of a gun at the school that day and also of the school's gross negligence. Zwerner is currently recovering from the injuries.
Was the shooting "intentional"?
Taylor's son will not be charged in connection to the shooting, said the city prosecutor's office who have stated on Tuesday that an investigation into whether the "actions or omissions" from the school employees is underway, and based on the findings, it could result in criminal charges.
According to Police Chief Steve, the shooting is characterized as "intentional" and said that the boy aimed the gun at Zwerner with no struggle or warning before he shot her and injured her in the hand and chest. After she was shot, the wounded first-grade teacher managed to help her students out of the classroom and she was then immediately transported to the hospital where she was treated for two weeks. The 6-year-old boy's family previously said that their son was under a care plan as he has an "acute disability." Either his father or mother was required to accompany him to school every day and during the week of the shooting incident, neither of his parents was with him in the class.
