Mother of 6-year-old boy who shot teacher gets 21 months for marijuana use while owning a gun

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The mother of a 6-year-old boy who shot his teacher in Virginia has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for using marijuana while owning a firearm, a violation of U.S. law. Deja Taylor’s son brought her handgun to school in January and shot Abby Zwerner, a first-grade teacher, causing serious injuries. Taylor’s sentencing, which took place in a U.S. District Court, represents the first accountability measure in connection with the shooting incident, which sparked a nationwide conversation about gun violence and had a significant impact on Newport News, a city with a strong military shipbuilding presence.

U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis imposed the exact punishment that federal prosecutors had requested, emphasizing that Taylor’s actions as a parent demonstrated a “dereliction of duty and responsibility.” Judge Davis connected the physical, emotional, and psychological harm suffered by Abby Zwerner directly to Taylor’s decision to combine heavy marijuana use with firearm ownership, asserting that her son would not have had access to the weapon if she had obeyed the law.

The repercussions of the classroom shooting have also affected other students present that day, who will carry the emotional scars for the rest of their lives, according to Judge Davis.

Abby Zwerner recounted the ongoing impact of the shooting in her life during the sentencing hearing, detailing the surgeries she underwent to regain motion in her left hand and the psychological toll, including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. Zwerner, who no longer works for the school system, expressed the profound financial and emotional losses she has suffered.

Gene Rossi, one of Taylor’s attorneys, read a brief statement from Taylor in which she expressed extreme remorse for her actions and acknowledged that she would carry that remorse with her for the rest of her life.

It’s worth noting that the federal case against Taylor comes at a time when marijuana is legal in many states, including Virginia, while firearm ownership is common among Americans. Some U.S. courts in different regions have ruled against the federal law prohibiting drug users from possessing firearms, but it remains in effect in many states.

Federal prosecutors argued that Taylor’s chronic and persistent drug abuse, combined with firearm ownership, made this case more than just a marijuana-related issue, emphasizing the dangerous nature of mixing prolonged drug use with firearms.

Taylor had previously agreed to a negotiated guilty plea in June, admitting to using marijuana while owning a gun and providing false information about her drug use when purchasing the firearm. Her attorneys had requested probation and home confinement, citing her need for counseling and treatment for schizoaffective disorder and marijuana addiction.

Taylor’s case also raises questions about the potential for the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit the federal ban on drug users owning guns, as some lower courts have issued conflicting rulings on this matter. The Supreme Court has not yet decided whether to take up the case.

In general, federal law prohibits firearm possession by individuals with felony convictions, those committed to mental institutions, or unlawful users of controlled substances, among other criteria. Last year, nearly 8,700 people were convicted under this law, with a significant portion convicted due to prior felony convictions.

Since the shooting incident, Taylor’s son has been in the custody of her grandfather, who has full custody according to court documents. The child had obtained the gun from his mother’s purse by climbing onto a dresser, and investigators found no trigger lock as initially claimed by Taylor. Additionally, Taylor had fired the gun in a public altercation with her son’s father in December before the school shooting.

This case underscores the complex issues surrounding drug use, gun ownership, and their legal implications, and it serves as a reminder of the need for responsible firearm handling and parenting.

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