Deja Taylor, the mother of a 6-year-old boy accused of shooting his first-grade teacher at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, in January, has pleaded guilty to a felony child neglect charge, ABC news reported on August 16.
Deja Taylor was indicted in April on charges of felony child neglect and a misdemeanor charge of endangering a child by reckless storage of a firearm. However, she entered a guilty plea to the felony child neglect charge in court on August 15. The charge of endangering a child by reckless storage of a firearm was subsequently dropped.
Taylor's attorney, James Ellenson, emphasized that the defense plans to present mitigating factors during the sentencing phase. He argued that while Taylor's role cannot be diminished, there were other individuals who should also be held accountable. Furthermore, he highlighted Taylor's mental state following several miscarriages and her history of being a victim of domestic abuse as additional factors to be considered during sentencing.
Upcoming sentencing
Taylor's sentencing has been scheduled for October 27, and her attorney believes that no jail time would be appropriate given the presented mitigating factors. The court will weigh these factors along with the seriousness of the offense to determine an appropriate sentence. Taylor also faced federal charges related to the incident. In June, she pleaded guilty to using marijuana while in possession of the 9 mm semi-automatic handgun allegedly used in the shooting. Federal prosecutors claimed that Taylor provided false information when purchasing the gun, stating that she did not use marijuana.
Background of the shooting incident
The incident occurred on January 6 at Richneck Elementary School. Taylor's son, a first-grade student, allegedly brought a firearm into the classroom and intentionally shot and wounded his teacher, Abby Zwerner. The teacher sustained a gunshot wound through her hand and into her chest. The incident raised concerns about school safety and led to a wider criminal investigation. Deja Taylor, in an exclusive interview with ABC News, asserted that her son's actions could be linked to his ADHD diagnosis. She described him as a "great kid" with high energy due to his condition.
"I am, as a parent, obviously willing to take responsibility for him because he can't take responsibility," she added.
The child's attorney, James Ellenson, stated that the young boy has been dealing with extreme emotional issues and is undergoing therapy to aid in his recovery. With support from his grandparents and professionals, he is reportedly making progress in his emotional well-being.
Legal action against the school district
Abby Zwerner, the wounded teacher, filed a $40 mn lawsuit against the Newport News School District and Richneck Elementary officials. The lawsuit alleges that the school ignored multiple warnings about the student's behavior and concerns that he might possess a gun. Lawyers for the school board have sought to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that her injuries fall under the state's worker's compensation law.
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