NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The mother of a 6-year-old boy who shot his teacher at Richneck Elementary School was indicted by a Newport News grand jury on Monday, according to the Daily Press.
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The boy shot first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner on Jan. 6 inside her classroom at Richneck Elementary School, the AP reported. Police said the boy’s mother, 25-year-old Deja Taylor, legally purchased the gun. Her attorney, James Ellenson, has said the gun was secured on a top shelf in her closet and had a trigger lock.
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In early April, Zwerner filed a lawsuit Monday seeking $40 million in damages from school officials, accusing them of gross negligence and of ignoring multiple warnings the day of the shooting that the boy was armed and in a “violent mood.”
Now, Taylor has been indicted by a Newport News grand jury, and has been charged with felony child neglect and a misdemeanor count of recklessly leaving a firearm so as to endanger a child, the Daily Press reported. Attorney Ellenson said Monday that his client plans to turn herself in later this week.
Newport News prosecutors have also requested a Circuit Court judge to impanel a “special grand jury” to “continue the investigation into any security issues that may have contributed to this shooting,” reports say, which could take months.
Authorities said in early March that they will not seek criminal charges against the child.