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

[Erutan]

This. Normal kids, from Normal home environments are not like this child. I was particularly disturbed by the information that this child lifted a girl's dress during recess, and was on top of her. That is NOT what five year old children do...

Even if there is a diagnosis of reactive attachment disorder, which is definitely what this child sounds like, there is a lot more beyond this diagnosis, to unpack in this particular case. INMO.

Bbm.
I missed that nugget of information !
Holy crapolah.

Adding that this child could have easily killed himself by accident.
At least there's action happening !
Imo.

 

[Erutan]

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.

Bolding mine.
Agreed !
Esp. the bolded.
This is so infuriating , as it could have (& should have) been prevented !!!
M00.

 

[mickey2942]

Mother of six-year-old who shot Virginia teacher charged

Deja Taylor was charged with felony child neglect and a misdemeanor charge for recklessly leaving a loaded firearm so as to endanger a child.

www.dailymail.co.uk

The mother of a six-year-old Virginia boy who shot his first-grade teacher has been charged with felony child neglect.

Deja Taylor was also indicted with a misdemeanor charge for recklessly leaving a loaded firearm so as to endanger a child, according to the Virginia Commonwealth Attorney's Office.

On January 6 Taylor's son shot 25-year-old Abigail Zwerner, a teacher at Richneck Elementary Public School in Newport News, Virginia.

The city prosecutor in Newport News previously said the boy would not be charged in the shooting because 'the prospect that a six-year-old can stand trial is problematic.'

It took long enough !

No photo , though .... Hmmm....
M00.

Finally. I can't believe it took this long.

 

[PrairieWind]

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.

Are you saying that once an indictment is issued, most times a warrant would be issued and the police go out and make the arrest? I would say that is often the case, yes. I believe that there are often times when a summons is a better option, not all for sure, maybe not even most, but some.

 

[Erutan]

Finally. I can't believe it took this long.

Yep.

I HOPE she doesn't get a 'slap on the wrist', mainly b/c she could transfer to a different school district or some other city, and this (imo!) will not 'fix' the problem with this child's behavior.
I thought earlier on when the news broke and still feel the boy should be removed from the home for an extended period and evaluated; since (again, imo) just having a parent accompany him daily to school was not helping to improve or even address his actions.
Never mind the the day AZ was shot -- there was no one to go with him to classes.
M00.

 

[PrairieWind]

Given the charges, would she need to post bond?

This District Attorney has been part of the no cash bond movement. So I doubt the DA asks for bond. The court may require some or a surety at least. Who knows. We live in crazy times.

 

[YepperBepper]

Bbm.
I missed that nugget of information !
Holy crapolah.

Adding that this child could have easily killed himself by accident.
At least there's action happening !
Imo.

I never heard this, either.

Ugh

 

[airportwoman]

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.

Mother of 6-year-old Richneck shooter charged; prosecutors look to further investigate security issues

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 New…

www.dailypress.com

It's about time!

I just heard on NBC News that "she plans to turn herself in by the end of the week." I'll believe that when I see it.

 

[YepperBepper]

This. Normal kids, from Normal home environments are not like this child. I was particularly disturbed by the information that this child lifted a girl's dress during recess, and was on top of her. That is NOT what five year old children do...

Even if there is a diagnosis of reactive attachment disorder, which is definitely what this child sounds like, there is a lot more beyond this diagnosis, to unpack in this particular case. INMO.

Geeze. I knew he was violent, but until today, I hadn't seen reference to the dress thing.

Yikes

 

[airportwoman]

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.

Actually, FAS is 100% about the parents, or at least the mother. A woman who is going to drink enough during pregnancy to have an FAS child isn't going to be taking care of that child afterwards, and probably didn't pick the best man to reproduce with, either.

It is the #1 preventable cause of mental and physical disability.

 

[airportwoman]

I did see the dress thing, and I'm pretty sure I posted a link, which I realize not everyone would have seen. It didn't surprise me at all, either.

 

[Erutan]

I never heard this, either.

Ugh

Just makes me wonder in a general sense... what has this child seen ?
Ultra-violent movies or video games ?
Etc.
Imo.

 

[Erutan]

Actually, FAS is 100% about the parents, or at least the mother. A woman who is going to drink enough during pregnancy to have an FAS child isn't going to be taking care of that child afterwards, and probably didn't pick the best man to reproduce with, either.

It is the #1 preventable cause of mental and physical disability.

Bbm.
Have we heard anything about the child's father ?

 

[YepperBepper]

Actually, FAS is 100% about the parents, or at least the mother. A woman who is going to drink enough during pregnancy to have an FAS child isn't going to be taking care of that child afterwards, and probably didn't pick the best man to reproduce with, either.

It is the #1 preventable cause of mental and physical disability.

He could be a foster child. Inho

 

[shotgun09]

I am wondering if this mother still has physical and legal custody of this boy, since it has taken 3 months to get a charge. I know he was placed in a hospital at one point, and per MSM reports the judge was to make final decisions on 'where' and ' with whom' for the future. But that was 3 months ago... And, she is charged with felony neglect

 

[mickey2942]

I did see the dress thing, and I'm pretty sure I posted a link, which I realize not everyone would have seen. It didn't surprise me at all, either.

Yeah, I can't remember what article it was, I believe it was discussing his behavior problems the previous year, in kindergarten. And it sounded like he escalated. I will see if I can find it again. It was disturbing. Found it.

Virginia teacher shot by 6-year-old files $40M lawsuit after she says school ignored warnings

The lawsuit mentions new details about the boy, who is identified as John Doe, and an alleged pattern of troubling behavior.

www.nbcnews.com

"While in kindergarten at Richneck in the 2021-22 school year, the boy strangled and choked a teacher and was removed from the school, according to the complaint.

That same school year, the boy also pulled up the dress of a female student who had fallen on the playground, the complaint says, and "began to touch the child inappropriately".

 

[MyBelle]

Yep.

I HOPE she doesn't get a 'slap on the wrist', mainly b/c she could transfer to a different school district or some other city, and this (imo!) will not 'fix' the problem with this child's behavior.
I thought earlier on when the news broke and still feel the boy should be removed from the home for an extended period and evaluated; since (again, imo) just having a parent accompany him daily to school was not helping to improve or even address his actions.
Never mind the the day AZ was shot -- there was no one to go with him to classes.
M00.

I'm betting the child was removed from the mother's custody immediately after the shooting and placed in a center for mental health evaluation. I also read that the reason he was in that classroom was because the parents refused to place him in a classroom for special education students. Considering the violence inflicted on the teacher--and the emotional trauma--inflicted on the students, I doubt Mom ever allowed to resume custody.

 

[YepperBepper]

Yeah, I can't remember what article it was, I believe it was discussing his behavior problems the previous year, in kindergarten. And it sounded like he escalated. I will see if I can find it again. It was disturbing. Found it.

Virginia teacher shot by 6-year-old files $40M lawsuit after she says school ignored warnings

The lawsuit mentions new details about the boy, who is identified as John Doe, and an alleged pattern of troubling behavior.

www.nbcnews.com

"While in kindergarten at Richneck in the 2021-22 school year, the boy strangled and choked a teacher and was removed from the school, according to the complaint.

That same school year, the boy also pulled up the dress of a female student who had fallen on the playground, the complaint says, and "began to touch the child inappropriately".

Wow. I missed both you and airport posting this previously. Apologies.

Frankly, this wasn't a child doing a dress pull... It sounds like a sexual assault.

From link:


That same school year, the boy also pulled up the dress of a female student who had fallen on the playground, the complaint says, and "began to touch the child inappropriately until reprimanded by a teacher."


End Quote

Bolded for reference

 

[Ontario Mom]

I did see the dress thing, and I'm pretty sure I posted a link, which I realize not everyone would have seen. It didn't surprise me at all, either.

I saw it and wasn't really too surprised either.
Maybe we have an expert here that can answer what kind of trauma causes violent sexual conduct in a child that age?
It seems pretty obvious there's something seriously wrong here, on so many levels.

jmo

 

[fred&edna]

I posted it on April 3rd from a link shared by Elley Mae

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

** I might be on the ignore list at this point. lol