A Virginia woman has been sentenced to two years in prison for child neglect after her 6-year-old son shot his first-grade teacher inside a classroom earlier this year. The incident occurred on January 6 at Richneck Elementary in Newport News, Virginia, when the child, whose identity has not been disclosed, used his mother’s handgun to shoot Abigail Zwerner. The woman, Deja Taylor, had failed to properly secure her firearm, leading to the tragic incident.
Taylor faced a potential sentence of up to five years in prison, but she reached a plea deal with prosecutors. During her court hearing on Friday, a judge ruled that she should serve two years behind bars. The case has garnered significant attention due to the seriousness of the incident and the potential dangers of unsecured firearms in households with children.
According to authorities, Taylor’s son revealed that he accessed the 9mm handgun by climbing onto a drawer to reach the top of a dresser, where his mother kept the firearm in her purse. He then concealed the weapon in his backpack and later in his pocket before carrying out the shooting in front of his classmates. Initially, Taylor claimed that she had used a trigger lock to secure the gun, but investigators were unable to locate one.
This sentencing follows another recent legal matter involving Taylor, as she was previously sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for marijuana possession while owning a firearm. The combination of these two incidents raises concerns about responsible gun ownership and the potential risks associated with drug use in relation to firearms.
As this is a developing story, further updates are expected in the future. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of gun safety and responsible ownership. The tragic consequences of negligence in securing firearms highlight the need for increased awareness and education on this issue.
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