Mother of six-year-old boy who shot teacher pleads guilty to gun charges

The mother of a Virginia six-year-old who shot his elementary school teacher pleaded guilty on Monday to federal gun charges.

Deja Taylor, the mother of the boy, pleaded guilty to being an illegal drug user while in possession of a firearm and of making a false statement on a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) form in order to purchase the weapon, according to The Hill.

Taylor reportedly purchased the firearm in July of 2022. Federal law requires that would-be gun purchasers attest they do not use drugs when buying a weapon. Considerable evidence existed to substantiate Taylor's long history of drug use. Authorities indicated that they discovered narcotics at Taylor's home shortly after the incident.

The young boy went to Richneck Elementary School and shot his first grade teacher.  Authorities at the time said it was "not an accidental shooting." Twenty-five-year-old Abigail Zwerner survived the injuries and has since claimed that school administrators ignored multiple warnings that the student had a gun.

Taylor faces a maximum of 25 years in prison.

The Newport News school board ousted superintendent George Parker III in April over the incident.

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