25-year-old Deja Taylor, the mother of the 6-year-old boy from Virginia who shot his teacher, is cooperating with officials. According to the New York Post, she is being charged with felony child neglect and recklessly leaving a firearm so as to endanger a child, says her attorney.
If you’re unaware the shooting occurred on Jan. 6 at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia. The 6-year-old shot Abigail Zwerner, a first-grade teacher. Although Zwerner recovered from the shooting, she is suing the school for $40 million.
The child wasn’t charged, yet, Taylor was hit with charges merely three months following the incident. Reports say although Taylor legally purchased the gun her son used to carry out the shooting, she can face up to six years if convicted of all charges.
James Ellenson, her attorney, told the Daily Press,
“Deja has cooperated from the first day of the incident. Most criminal prosecutions are adversarial in nature, but we will make our best efforts so that these proceedings will be more collaborative than most.”
Taylor’s attorney said the main focus
“is the continued health and wellbeing of all persons involved in the incident at Richneck Elementary School, including the teacher and Deja’s son.”
Prosecutors allege that Taylor displayed
“reckless disregard for human life”
by allowing the firearm to be accessible to her son. The Post added that the bullet ripped through Zwerner’s hand and into her chest.
The Post reported that
“Taylor is set to turn herself in sometime this week.”
#Clique, what are your thoughts?
