VA - 6-YEAR-OLD in custody after shooting teacher, Newport News, Jan 2023 *mom charged* #2

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Normal kids, from Normal home environments are not like this child

I don't think parents of kids with severe behavioral problems should always be blamed, because sometimes children act this way due to brain injury, mental illness, etc. But normal good parents wouldn't keep a gun in the home with said child and wouldn't insist he be mainstreamed no matter how many times he harms others.

I'm glad there are finally charges against this boy's parent.

Those trying to put some of the blame onto the teacher herself should be ashamed. She clearly didn't ignore the threats. Administration was notified and they ignored it. All IMO.
 
A Newport News grand jury on Monday indicted the mother of the 6-year-old boy who shot his first grade teacher at Richneck Elementary School three months ago.

Deja Nicole Taylor, 25, of Newport News — whose son shot 25-year-old teacher Abby Zwerner during class on Jan. 6 — was charged with felony child neglect and a misdemeanor count of recklessly leaving a firearm so as to endanger a child.

Good.

If she hadn’t left a loaded gun where a child could access it, the shooting wouldn’t have happened.
 

Zwerner’s lawyer Diane Toscano shared this statement on Monday after news of the indictment: “There were failures in accountability at multiple levels that led to Abby being shot and almost killed. Today’s announcement addresses but one of those failures. It has been three months of investigation and still so many unanswered questions remain. Our lawsuit makes clear that we believe the school division violated state law, and we are pursuing this in civil court. We will not allow school leaders to escape accountability for their role in this tragedy.”
 
She will turn herself in later this week. Wow...


The boy shot first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner on January 6 inside her classroom at Richneck Elementary School. Police said the boy’s mother legally purchased the gun and her attorney, James Ellenson, has said the gun was secured on a top shelf in her closet and had a trigger lock.
Ellenson said Monday that his client plans to turn herself in later this week.

"I wish to thank the NN Commonwealth Attorney's office for extending me the courtesy of informing us of the indictments that were returned by the Grand Jury today," Ellenson said in a statement to ABC News. "My client will be turning herself in later this week. More details will follow."

The charges come after an investigation by the Newport News Police Department and the city's Commonwealth's Attorney's Office. The office said it "determined that the facts and the law" support charges against Taylor for those two offenses.
 
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Finally!!! Sounds like the DA is looking at more charges from the special grand jury. MOO
This DA doesn't impress me too much. This took 3 months and only now is he thinking about ASKING the court for a special GJ for the administrators? I'm thinking that he is just hoping the State takes over.
 
Apparently, she's really special... thanks to that attorney of hers.
I am in favor of giving most people an opportunity to turn them selves in. It is much safer. Obviously that opportunity doesn't apply to all situations, but I see no reason why this particular defendant shouldn't be given that opportunity.
 
DBM just until we get confirmation on the LinkedIn--I definitely don't want to violate TOS by incorrectly associating an innocent person with the same name with the woman charged today! There is another LinkedIn profile with a person of the same name from the same part of Virginia who may also be the same age as the woman charged today so I'll be better safe than sorry!
 
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I am in favor of giving most people an opportunity to turn them selves in. It is much safer. Obviously that opportunity doesn't apply to all situations, but I see no reason why this particular defendant shouldn't be given that opportunity.

I think many (if not most) parents in the US who have been charged with the same violations get arrested on the spot or at least PDQ... she's fortunate to have that attorney.
 
I don't think parents of kids with severe behavioral problems should always be blamed, because sometimes children act this way due to brain injury, mental illness, etc. But normal good parents wouldn't keep a gun in the home with said child and wouldn't insist he be mainstreamed no matter how many times he harms others.

I'm glad there are finally charges against this boy's parent.

Those trying to put some of the blame onto the teacher herself should be ashamed. She clearly didn't ignore the threats. Administration was notified and they ignored it. All IMO.
Bbm

Absolutely. There ARE children who are like this due to a multitude of reasons that have zero to do with the parents. FAS. Mental illness, etc.

That said, and I think you and I agreed before....there is no room for a weapon in a home with a child that exhibits these behaviors. Locks are likely in order to protect him and others.

Additionally, I agree. Even if the school is willing to look the other way when a child has severe behavioral problems, a parent must make rational decisions for placement in a classroom. My guys did not belong in mainstream. Our local district insisted. We could have fought it, but instead went private (with an extra job...lol). Everyone was better off. The teacher, my guys and the other children. Imho
 
The linked in I doubt is her imo someone with that name had an active Facebook that does not appear anymore and a Instagram that just went private JMO

Hmmm... the one I saw still has a FB but nothing recent posted.

It's possible the parent is someone who lives in NN and is not a Richmond VA resident.

It's difficult to know for sure.
 
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