Charges Filed Against Mother of 6-Year-Old Who Shot a Teacher

A grand jury in Newport Information, Va., has indicted the mom of a 6-year-old who shot and injured his first-grade instructor at an elementary faculty in January, the authorities mentioned on Monday.

The mom, Deja Taylor, faces one felony cost of kid neglect and a misdemeanor cost for little one endangerment that includes a loaded weapon, the town’s prosecutor mentioned in an announcement. Her son is accused of capturing his instructor as soon as with a handgun in a classroom at Richneck Elementary College, critically injuring her.

The fees adopted an investigation by the Newport Information Police Division and the workplace of the commonwealth’s lawyer. James Ellenson, a lawyer representing the kid’s household, mentioned Ms. Taylor would flip herself in to the authorities this week, however wouldn’t remark additional on the costs.

The Jan. 6 capturing in Newport Information, a metropolis about 70 miles southeast of Richmond, Va., shocked officers and the neighborhood, drawing important consideration due to the kid’s age, the college’s response and the boy’s entry to the weapon.

The instructor, Abigail Zwerner, had been in the midst of a routine lesson in her first-grade classroom when, the police mentioned, the boy pulled out the gun, aimed it at her and fired. A single bullet handed by way of her hand and struck her chest.

Days after the capturing, a spokeswoman for the Newport Information public faculty district, Michelle Worth, confirmed {that a} workers member had searched the kid’s backpack earlier than the capturing happened “after it was reported that the scholar might have a weapon.” No weapon was discovered. Later that month, the college board voted to terminate the contract of the district’s superintendent, George Parker III.

The kid has not been charged, and the prosecutor, Howard E. Gwynn, mentioned final month that he would more than likely not perceive the authorized system. The “prospect {that a} 6-year-old can stand trial is problematic,” Mr. Gwynn mentioned.

However in an announcement on Monday, Mr. Gwynn mentioned that he was asking the courtroom to create a particular grand jury to analyze doable safety points on the faculty, and that extra indictments is likely to be coming.

This can be a creating story. Test again for updates.