Virginia 6-year-old’s mother gets 2-year prison term for teacher shooting
OAN’s Abril Elfi
3:20 PM – Saturday, December 16, 2023
A Virginia mother whose six-year-old son shot his teacher was sentenced to two years in prison.
On Friday, Circuit Judge Christopher Papile sentenced 26-year-old Deja Taylor to two years behind bars.
Taylor had been charged with felony child neglect in April and previously pleaded guilty in August.
The judge’s sentence was more severe than the six months in prison that the prosecution had recommended. The prosecution had dropped the misdemeanor charge of recklessly storing a firearm as part of a plea agreement.
After serving 21 months for a related federal charge, Taylor must start her state sentence. She was sentenced last month after entering a guilty plea in June to the charge of using marijuana while in possession of a firearm, which is prohibited by federal law.
Taylor’s son, who is currently 7 years old, is still in the custody of his great-grandfather, Calvin Taylor, according to family attorney James Ellenson.
Ellenson continued, “Deja Taylor may have supervised contact with her son at Calvin Taylor’s discretion.”
On January 6th, Taylor’s son took her handgun to school at Richneck Elementary in Virginia and shot his first-grade teacher, Zwerner, in the classroom, leaving her severely wounded.
Zwerner was shot in the hand and chest and needed four separate surgeries, according to her legal team.
After the shooting, the child told a reading specialist who assessed him, “I shot that (expletive) dead” and “I got my mom’s gun last night,” according to search warrants.
Less than two weeks after the shooting, investigators searched Taylor’s home and discovered an ounce of marijuana in her bedroom and proof of frequent drug use in her cell phone messaging history.
Court documents state that agents found marijuana and a box of ammunition in Taylor’s home, along with several other items. They also discovered marijuana when they searched Taylor’s mother’s residence, where Taylor was staying at the time.
According to documents, before pleading guilty, Taylor lied on the ATF form she completed when purchasing the firearm, claiming “she was not an unlawful user of marijuana or other controlled substances.”
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What does the sentencing of Deja Taylor highlight about the importance of responsible gun ownership and the need for stricter regulations to prevent similar incidents in the future
A Virginia mother whose six-year-old son shot his teacher has been sentenced to two years in prison. Deja Taylor, 26 years old, was convicted of felony child neglect and pleaded guilty to the charge in August. On Friday, Circuit Judge Christopher Papile handed down the sentence, which was more severe than the six months in prison recommended by the prosecution.
The incident occurred on January 6th at Richneck Elementary School in Virginia, when Taylor’s son brought her handgun to school and shot his first-grade teacher, Abigail Zwerner, in the classroom. Zwerner sustained serious injuries and required multiple surgeries. She was shot in the hand and chest.
After the shooting, the child made disturbing statements to a reading specialist, claiming, “I shot that (expletive) dead” and “I got my mom’s gun last night,” according to search warrants. Less than two weeks after the incident, investigators searched Taylor’s home and found an ounce of marijuana and evidence of frequent drug use on her cell phone.
In addition to the child neglect charge, Taylor was also facing a misdemeanor charge of recklessly storing a firearm. However, as part of a plea agreement, this charge was dropped. Taylor had previously spent 21 months in federal custody on a related charge of using marijuana while in possession of a firearm, which is prohibited by federal law.
Taylor’s son is currently in the custody of his great-grandfather, Calvin Taylor, according to the family attorney, James Ellenson. Ellenson stated that Deja Taylor may have supervised contact with her son at Calvin Taylor’s discretion.
The judge’s decision to sentence Deja Taylor to two years in prison reflects the seriousness of the incident and the potential danger posed by her negligence in storing the firearm. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible gun ownership and ensuring that firearms are securely stored, particularly in households with children.
It is crucial to prioritize the safety and well-being of children by taking necessary precautions to prevent such tragic incidents from occurring. Education and awareness about responsible gun ownership should be promoted to prevent further cases like this from happening in the future.
All individuals who own firearms, especially parents, must recognize the potential risks involved and take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of themselves, their families, and their communities. Incidents like this highlight the need for stricter regulations and laws governing gun ownership to prevent accidents and protect innocent lives.
Overall, the sentencing of Deja Taylor serves as a somber reminder of the consequences that can result from negligence in firearm storage and emphasizes the importance of responsible gun ownership. It is crucial that we work towards creating a safer environment for children, where incidents like this are minimized through education, awareness, and responsible measures.
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