Virginia Mother Sentenced to Prison in Wake of Son’s Classroom Shooting

In a case that has captured national attention, Deja Taylor, the mother of a 6-year-old boy who shot his teacher in a Virginia classroom, has been sentenced to a total of nearly four years in prison. The incident, which occurred in January, resulted in the critical injury of first-grade teacher Abigail Zwerner at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia.

The Sentencing

Deja Taylor, 26, received a sentence of two years in prison for felony child neglect. This sentence, handed down by Circuit Court Judge Christopher Papile, exceeded the maximum six months recommended in a plea deal and surpassed state sentencing guidelines. This ruling comes on top of a previous 21-month federal prison sentence for using marijuana while owning a gun, which is illegal under U.S. law. The combined state and federal sentences amount to nearly four years of imprisonment.

Details of the Incident

The tragic incident unfolded when Taylor’s son brought a 9mm handgun to school, which he had taken from his mother’s purse. He shot Zwerner, his teacher, in front of his first-grade class, resulting in serious injuries to her hand and chest. The young boy reportedly accessed the gun by climbing onto a drawer to reach the top of a dresser. Initially, Taylor claimed to have secured the gun with a trigger lock, but investigators did not find one.

Psychological and Emotional Impact

The shooting left profound psychological and emotional scars on the victims and the community. Zwerner spent weeks in the hospital and underwent five surgeries. She has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and has expressed that she is mentally scarred to the extent that she does not plan to return to teaching. In her lawsuit against Newport News Public Schools for $40 million, Zwerner alleged that the administration ignored multiple warnings about the boy’s behavior and possession of a gun on the day of the shooting.

Taylor’s Background and Statements

Taylor has faced several challenges, including addiction, miscarriages, postpartum depression, and being diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. In a statement, she expressed her responsibility for her son’s actions and her remorse, which she stated she would feel “for the rest of [her] life.” Her defense highlighted these mitigating circumstances, but the court’s decision reflects the severity of the incident and the broader implications for child safety and gun responsibility.

Broader Implications

This case has sparked a wider conversation about gun safety, parental responsibility, and the importance of mental health support. The severity of the sentence underscores the legal system’s stance on the critical importance of securing firearms in homes with children and the consequences of neglecting this responsibility.