Mother of 6-year-old who shot Virginia teacher gets 2 years in prison

Deja Taylor, the mother of a 6-year-old boy who shot a Virginia teacher in January, received a two-year prison sentence on Friday for child neglect.

The incident took place at Richneck Elementary School, during which the boy inflicted a single gunshot wound on his first grade teacher, Abigail Zwerner.

Circuit Court Judge Christopher Papile issued the Friday sentence, which exceeded a joint sentencing recommendation of six months, according to the Associated Press. Her son said she had left the pistol on her dresser and that he had secured it by climbing a drawer.

She pleaded guilty to child neglect charge and also separately pleaded guilty to using marijuana while owning a gun, for which she received a 21-month sentence last month.

The incident saw the Newport News School Board oust superintendent George Parker III due to claims from Zwerner's attorney that the administration had been warned the child had a gun multiple times but did not act.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.