Key takeaways:
- Deja Taylor, 26, was arrested on charges of child neglect and recklessly leaving a firearm so as to endanger a child.
- Taylor had no criminal record and had cooperated with authorities since the shooting occurred.
- The incident has sparked a debate about gun safety and the need for stricter gun control laws.
A mother of a 6-year-old student who shot his first-grade teacher in a classroom in Newport News, Virginia, earlier this year has been arrested on charges of child neglect and recklessly leaving a firearm so as to endanger a child.
Deja Taylor, 26, surrendered to the Newport News Sheriff’s Office on Thursday and was later released on $5,000 bond, according to her attorney James Ellenson. Taylor had no criminal record and had cooperated with authorities since the shooting occurred.
The Newport News Police Department released a booking photo of Taylor and a brief statement that said she turned herself in at the local jail. The indictments against Taylor were announced Monday in a press release from the office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney.
The charges against Taylor include felony child neglect and a misdemeanor charge of endangering a child by reckless storage of a firearm. The 6-year-old student shot and wounded his teacher in the incident.
Ellenson said in a statement Tuesday that Taylor had planned to turn herself in before the end of the week. Taylor’s attorney had said that she planned to turn herself in later this week.
The incident has sparked a debate about gun safety and the need for stricter gun control laws. The Newport News Police Department is continuing to investigate the incident.
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