"Mother of 6-Year-Old Who Shot Teacher Receives Two-Year Prison Sentence for Child Neglect"

Deja Taylor, the mother of a 6-year-old boy who shot his teacher at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, has been sentenced to two years in prison for felony child neglect. The judge stated that Taylor had abdicated her responsibilities as a parent, leading to the severe consequences of her son's actions. Taylor had already been serving a 21-month sentence on federal convictions related to owning the gun while using drugs. The shooting prompted national attention and criticism of school officials for not addressing violence on local campuses. The injured teacher, Abigail Zwerner, testified about the emotional and physical impact of the incident. A grand jury is still investigating security lapses that may have contributed to the shooting.