NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Deja Taylor, the mother of a 6-year-old boy who shot his teacher at Richneck Elementary School, was sentenced Wednesday to nearly two years in prison for federal gun crimes.
Taylor pleaded guilty to the charges in June and was convicted of using marijuana while owning a gun, as well as lying about her drug use on a federal form when she bought the gun.
Judge Mark Davis sentenced Taylor to 21 months in federal prison, the recommended sentencing offered by prosecutors.
Taylor's son took her handgun to school and shot Abby Zwerner in her first-grade classroom in January, seriously wounding the teacher. Investigators later found nearly an ounce of marijuana in Taylor's bedroom and evidence of frequent drug use in her text messages and paraphernalia.
The federal charges against Taylor come at a time when marijuana is legal in many states, including Virginia. However, Judge Davis said in court this case is not about the use of marijuana while owning a handgun, but rather about how a series of reckless decisions resulted in the tragedy of the Richneck Elementary School shooting.
"It's just a travesty she [Abby Zwerner] has had to suffer in that way because of the violations of these laws," Judge Davis said.
Prosecutors referred to the fact that after Taylor violated her bond agreement by failing multiple drug tests for marijuana and not showing up for counseling, she continued to fail a few more drug tests leading up to the end of October. That resulted in a total of eight failed tests.
Virginia teacher Abby Zwerner testifies at Deja Taylor sentencing hearing
Before closing arguments, Abby Zwerner walked up to the podium before the judge with a letter in hand. She had a major scar from where the bullet went through her hand and hit her in the chest.
Zwerner, in her first-time testifying in connection to this case, recalled the tragic day. She said she'll never forget the moment her student pointed his mother's handgun straight at her and fired one round, striking her.
Her lung collapsed when she ran out of the room and when first responders arrived, she said she did not know if the moment before passing out from her injuries would be her "last moment on earth."
Zwerner said this shooting robbed her of many things, including the simple tasks of showering, changing clothes and going for a walk. She said the functionality of her left hand has regressed and she can barely use it because of the bullet wound. She doesn't know if it will go back to normal.
Zwerner also talked about the decline in her mental health, saying, "I lost myself following the shooting."
She said she gets scared whenever she sees someone on the street walking with his or her hands in the pockets of a sweatshirt; it resembles how the student hid the gun in his jacket the day of the shooting. In addition to the physical pieces of the bullet that remain in her hand and chest, Zwerner said she has deep psychological scars.
"I love children, but now I am scared to be involved with them," she said.
Grandfather of Deja Taylor son testifies, says the system 'failed his family'
Calvin Taylor, Deja's grandfather who has custody of her son, also testified in court. He said since the Richneck Elementary shooting, Taylor's son has attended several different types of therapy, including trauma therapy and anger management.
Calvin referenced two different times when the boy took his mother's car keys while she slept and got in her car. One time, he locked himself in the car. The other, he hit two other parked cars in a complex.
Calvin said Child Protection Services visited the family and recommended Deja Taylor keep her keys in a lock box and attend counseling services. However, Calvin said CPS never returned to ensure Deja attended the counseling services. Instead, he said, they only checked in to make sure she had a lock box, which he said he kept in his closet.
Calvin said he tried multiple times to get Deja and her son help, but said the system "failed his family" and asked the judge to consider the fact that Deja and her son are also victims in this case.
"Just like every parent, I was upset to hear the news. We tried everything to give Taylor a normal life," Calvin said. "I am deeply sorry, especially from my family, to Abby Zwerner."
Read Taylor's full statement below or by clicking here.
Mother of 6-year-old who shot teacher expresses remorse
Deja Taylor wrote a letter to the judge that was read out loud by her attorney, Gene Rossi, at Wednesday's hearing. In the letter, Taylor said she is remorseful of her actions leading up to the shooting and that she would live with this regret for the rest of her life.
Taylor's attorneys, James Ellenson and Gene Rossi, called for the judge to consider probation, rather than prison time, saying incarceration is not the answer to her addiction and mental health disorders.
"She [Deja] feels deeply remorseful about what has happened. She's 26 and is going to prison. That has a big impact on someone with her background and age, but I think when she gets out, she's going to turn her life around," Rossi said.
"She is an example of someone who has been grappling with addiction issues led on by the turbulent events of her life, but addiction is a very powerful motivation and force, and society has to recognize that."
Taylor's mother, Cassandra Hanks, also wrote a letter to the court in support of her daughter, asking the court to show compassion.
"Deja is very intelligent and has a bright future ahead of her," Hanks wrote. "With proper guidance and continued family support, I know my daughter can overcome this thought time and go on to do great things."
Read Hanks' full statement below or by clicking here.
Judge says Deja Taylor case 'cries out for' imprisonment
Over the course of an hour, Judge Davis recollected all the details of the case and explained why all factors need to be considered before handing down his decision.
"This case cries out for a sentence of imprisonment,” Davis said.
The judge said a direct line can be drawn from Taylor's violations of the law to the events that occurred at Richneck Elementary School.
He also referenced two letters from parents of students who were inside the school when the shooting occurred, saying, "It makes it clear to me those are going to be life-long impacts."
Judge Davis chose to go along with the prosecutors' recommendation of 21 months in federal prison.
Deja Taylor was taken into custody immediately following the hearing. She will have two years of supervised probation, once she is released.
Prosecutors did not comment on their way out of court. Abby Zwerner, her attorneys and family also did not wish to comment.