Virginia Parent of Child Who Shot Teacher Receives 21-Month Prison Sentence

A woman in Virginia, Deja Taylor, has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for a drug charge related to the gun used by her six-year-old son to shoot his teacher. Taylor pleaded guilty to using cannabis while possessing a firearm. She still awaits sentencing on a separate charge of felony child neglect. The incident occurred on January 6th in Newport News, when Taylor's son brought the gun to school and injured his teacher, Abby Zwerner. Zwerner is suing for $40 million in damages. Investigators found approximately 1oz of cannabis in Taylor's home following the shooting. While cannabis is legal in Virginia, it is against the law to possess a firearm while actively using drugs. Taylor wiped away tears as Judge Mark Davis sentenced her to the full requested term. Zwerner delivered a victim-impact statement, describing the physical and emotional toll of the shooting. She shared that she has nightmares involving firearms, had to undergo multiple surgeries, and has experienced emotional and financial difficulties since the incident. Taylor is also facing charges of child neglect and her attorneys argued for home confinement and probation, citing her mental health issues and marijuana addiction. The school board, against whom Zwerner filed a lawsuit, failed in their attempt to dismiss the case. The child involved in the shooting stated that he obtained the firearm by reaching his mother's bag, which was on top of a dresser secured by a drawer. Although Taylor claimed to have used a trigger lock, investigators did not find evidence of this measure. Text messages and drug paraphernalia discovered in Taylor's home indicated frequent drug use. The federal charge against Taylor for using drugs while owning a firearm is rare and has faced constitutional challenges, similar to the case involving Hunter, President Joe Biden's son.