Mother of 6-year-old Virginia student who shot teacher charged with neglect

A Virginia grand jury has indicted the mother of the 6-year-old who shot his first-grade teacher earlier this year.

Teacher Abby Zwerner was shot in the hand and chest in January at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News as she sat at a reading table in her classroom. The 25-year-old teacher spent nearly two weeks in the hospital and required four surgeries.

The shooting sent shock waves through the military shipbuilding community and the country, with many wondering how a child so young could access a gun and shoot his teacher.

On Monday, the Newport News Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office shared that a grand jury has indicted the student’s mother, Deja Taylor, for felony child neglect and a misdemeanor of recklessly leaving a loaded firearm so as to endanger a child.

“Every criminal case is unique in its facts, and these facts support these charges, but our investigation into the shooting continues,” said Newport News Commonwealth’s Attorney Howard Gwynn in a press release. No charges are expected to be brought against the 6-year-old, Gwynn said last month.