Deja Taylor, the mother of a 6-year-old boy who shot and wounded his first-grade teacher in Newport News earlier this year, has been sentenced to two years in prison for child neglect.
The incident, which occurred on January 6, shocked the community and prompted legal action against Taylor.
In August, Taylor pleaded guilty to a state felony child neglect charge related to the shooting incident. On Friday, the Newport News Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office announced her sentencing, with Taylor receiving a five-year sentence, three of which are suspended.
In addition to the two-year prison term, she will face two more years of supervised probation, which includes substance abuse treatment, parenting classes, and mental health treatment.
Last month, Taylor was also sentenced to 21 months in prison on two federal felony charges. These charges stem from her use of marijuana while in possession of a firearm and making a false statement about her drug use during the firearm purchase.
Abigail Zwerner, the 25-year-old first-grade teacher seriously wounded in the shooting, has undergone four surgeries and still has a bullet lodged in her body.
The bullet passed through her hand before striking her chest, a detail that her attorney Diane Toscano suggests likely saved her life.
Zwerner, who testified at Taylor’s hearing, expressed the ongoing physical and psychological challenges she faces.
“Not only do I bear physical scars from the shooting that will remain with me forever, I contend daily with deep psychological scars that plague me during most waking moments and invade my dreams,” Zwerner stated during the hearing.
In addition to the criminal charges, Zwerner has filed a $40 million lawsuit against the school district for negligence by school administrators.
The Newport News Commonwealth Attorney’s Office stated that the investigation into the January 6, 2023, shooting at Richneck Elementary is still ongoing.
