A 6-year-old Virginia teacher was shot, and the mother has been accused
The mother of a six-year-old boy who shot his teacher at a Virginia school has been charged with a crime.
A grand jury has indicted Deja Taylor, 25, on charges of felony child neglect and a misdemeanour.
The police had previously stated that Ms. Taylor owned the gun that was used in the incident.
On January 6, in the city of Newport News, the youngster arrived at Richneck Elementary School with a revolver in his backpack.
He then shot 25-year-old teacher Abigail Zwerner in the hand and chest while she was teaching. Ms. Zwerner was shot, but she survived with terrible injuries.
For “recklessly leaving a loaded firearm so as to endanger a child,” Ms. Taylor was charged on Monday with one count of felony child negligence and one count of misdemeanor, according to the prosecution.
The accusations, they continued, were the result of a “thorough investigation” into the shooting.
Attorney for the Commonwealth of Virginia Howard Gwynn stated, “Every criminal case is unique in the facts, and these facts support these charges, but our investigation into the shooting continues.”
The family had previously claimed that the gun was secured in a statement following the shooting.
The gun had a trigger lock, according to James Elleson, the family’s attorney, and had been in the mother’s closet on a top shelf.
Other charges may be brought, according to the authorities, as a special grand jury investigates possible security lapses at the school that led to the killing.
“The Special Grand Jury can return additional indictments if it finds that additional people are criminally responsible under the law,” Mr. Gwynn added.
The instructor has filed a lawsuit against the school administration, accusing them of willfully disobeying repeated warnings that the boy had a pistol on the day of the incident.
Boy, 6, shoots Virginia teacher; $40 million lawsuit filed
A staff member at the school had earlier verified that the child’s rucksack had been searched on the day of the shooting after it was suspected that the pupil might have a weapon.
In the past, prosecutors have stated that it was improbable that the youngster would face charges in connection with the shooting.
Since a six-year-old is too young to understand the judicial system, Mr. Gwynn stated to NBC News in March that it is “problematic that a six-year-old can stand trial.”
At the time, Mr. Gwynn stated, “Once we review all the evidence, we will charge any person or persons whom we believe we can establish beyond a reasonable doubt committed a crime.”
