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Federal prosecutors are seeking to revoke the bond of the mother whose 6-year-old son shot and wounded a teacher at a Virginia elementary school, alleging the woman failed drug tests and missed treatment sessions while she was free awaiting sentencing in a gun case related to the high-profile incident, according to court filings.
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Deja Taylor, 26, of Newport News, had been released pending her Oct. 18 sentencing for lying about her marijuana use on the background check for a gun purchase and possessing the weapon while using pot. She pleaded guilty to the charges in June in federal court in Newport News.
Taylor’s son took the same gun from his mother’s purse and used it to shoot first-grade teacher Abigail Zwerner at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News on Jan. 6, authorities have said.
‘I thought I had died’: Teacher recounts shooting by 6-year-old student
Taylor’s attorney has not filed a response to the motion and declined to comment. The U.S. attorney’s office also declined to comment on the motion. A judge will ultimately determine whether Taylor can remain free.
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The shooting garnered national attention because of the age of the shooter and generated outrage locally over whether school officials had done enough to prevent the tragedy. Zwerner claims in a civil suit that an assistant principal ignored multiple warnings the boy had a gun on the day of the shooting.
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The Richneck Elementary shooting: What we know arrow left arrow right
The mother of the 6-year-old who shot his teacher has pleaded guilty to child neglect, authorities said. The Virginia teacher who was shot by a 6-year-old is no longer with the school district, according to a spokeswoman. Retracing the Richneck shooting: How did a Virginia school fail to stop a 6-year-old from shooting his teacher?
Staffers say that Richneck Elementary downplayed educators’ warnings about the 6-year-old’s behavior. The student’s mother said her son has ADHD. How often do elementary students bring guns to school and shoot someone? The accused 6-year-old student isn’t the first. Confused about firearms? Here’s what to know about Virginia’s gun laws.
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A special grand jury empaneled by Newport News Commonwealth’s Attorney Howard Gwynn will begin meeting later this month to hear testimony on any security lapses related to the shooting, the Newport News Circuit Court clerk’s office said Monday. Gwynn announced his plans for a special grand jury in April, and it was unclear why it was not convened sooner. Gwynn’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
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The U.S. attorney’s office for the Eastern District of Virginia wrote in its motion seeking to have Taylor jailed that she violated the terms of her bond by testing positive for marijuana and cocaine during tests on July 19 and Aug. 25. Taylor signed an admission that she used marijuana on Aug. 22, according to the motion.
How Richneck Elementary failed to stop a 6-year-old from shooting his teacher
Prosecutors wrote they are awaiting another round of tests to confirm that Taylor had drugs in her system.
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Taylor also missed mandated substance abuse treatment sessions on Aug. 17 and Aug. 24, according to the motion. In addition, prosecutors allege that Taylor missed two required drug testing appointments in August.
Taylor pleaded guilty to a felony count of child neglect as part of a deal with prosecutors in state court in August. She is scheduled to be sentenced in that case on Oct. 27. Taylor faces at least 18 months in prison when she is sentenced in both cases.
Taylor previously expressed remorse about the shooting. Gwynn has said the boy, who is currently being cared for by his grandfather, won’t be charged in the case.
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