NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Deja Taylor, a 25-year-old mother, was sentenced to two years in prison for felony child neglect related to an incident where her 6-year-old son shot his first-grade teacher with her firearm. The Commonwealth District Attorney’s office announced the sentencing on Friday. This is in addition to the 21 months of prison time Taylor is already serving for a previous conviction.
Taylor was charged after turning herself in this April. She pleaded guilty to felony child neglect and misdemeanor recklessness. The court also mandated two years of supervised probation, including substance abuse treatment, parenting classes, and mental health treatment.
The shooting occurred on January 6 at Richneck Elementary School, where teacher Abigail Zwerner, 25, was injured by a gunshot from Taylor’s son. Zwerner sustained injuries to her hand and chest, including broken bones and a punctured lung. Following the incident, Zwerner filed a lawsuit against the Newport News School Board, the district superintendent, and the principal of Richneck Elementary.
The lawsuit alleges that school administrators were aware of the child’s access to a gun and his history of violence, including previous aggressive incidents at the school. The sentence handed to Taylor exceeded the state’s recommendation, reflecting the severity of the incident’s circumstances. Taylor’s son was not charged in the case.