In a shocking incident earlier this year, a six-year-old student shot his first-grade teacher at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia. Now, the teacher, Abigail Zwerner, is suing the school district, claiming that administrators were aware of the child’s access to a gun. In a further twist, the mother of the student, Deja Taylor, has been sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for using marijuana while possessing a firearm.
According to authorities, the young boy shot Zwerner on January 6th with his mother’s handgun. Investigators later discovered evidence of frequent drug use and nearly an ounce of marijuana in Taylor’s bedroom. Federal prosecutors argued that this case is not solely about marijuana but rather highlights the dangerous consequences of mixing drug use with firearms.
Taylor, who is 26 years old, still awaits sentencing for felony child neglect charges in December. Her attorneys have requested probation and home confinement, citing her need for counseling due to her schizoaffective disorder and marijuana addiction. They describe Taylor as deeply remorseful for the tragic shooting.
Zwerner, who suffered serious injuries from the incident, is seeking $40 million in damages from the school district. She alleges that administrators ignored multiple warnings about the student’s access to a gun. The teacher was hit in the hand and chest and spent weeks in the hospital, undergoing multiple surgeries.
Details about the shooting emerged from search warrants filed in the case. The child reportedly told a reading specialist who restrained him, “I shot that (expletive) dead,” and claimed to have obtained his mother’s gun the night before. It remains unclear how the child obtained the firearm, although prosecutors mention a previous incident where Taylor fired the gun in public.
The student’s father, who was the target of Taylor’s previous gunfire, now has full custody of the seven-year-old boy. Zwerner’s lawsuit against the school district will likely shed more light on the alleged negligence by administrators.
This incident serves as a chilling reminder of the potential dangers that can arise when firearms are accessible to children. It also highlights the need for responsible gun ownership and the potential risks of mixing drug use with firearms.
