NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The mother of the 6-year-old student who shot his teacher at Richneck Elementary School three months ago has turned herself in to face two pending charges.
Deja Nicole Taylor — who was indicted by a Newport News grand jury on Monday — walked into the Newport News City Jail at 11:52 a.m. Thursday, accompanied by her attorney, James Ellenson.
After being booked and processed, the 25-year-old was released from custody at about 2:30 p.m. after posting the $5,000 bond set by a Newport News magistrate.
Police say Taylor’s son used her gun to shoot his teacher, Abby Zwerner, in his first grade classroom on Jan. 6. The child’s mother is now facing a felony child neglect count as well as a misdemeanor charge of recklessly leaving a firearm so as to endanger a child.
Taylor walked into the City Jail — on 26th Street downtown — nearly two hours after her expected 10 a.m. check-in time that had previously been worked out between her lawyer and the Newport News Sheriff’s Office.
The Thursday check-in came after the Newport News Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office gave Ellenson the courtesy of walking her into the jail rather than physically arresting her after Monday’s indictments.
But Taylor failed to meet Ellenson and her mother and grandfather at the preplanned meeting spot — a Dunkin Donuts on Washington Avenue — at 9:45 a.m.
Ellenson called Sheriff Gabe Morgan at about 10:20 a.m. to say there was a problem.
Morgan urged the family to “make every effort” to find Taylor or he would “do what he had to do” to track her down, Ellenson said. Taylor’s mother, grandfather and Ellenson left the Dunkin Donuts at 10:30 a.m. — with the mother in tears at the plan falling through.
But Taylor then called her mother at 10:54 a.m. to say she had simply overslept. Ellenson said she took several sleeping pills Wednesday night because she was anxious and couldn’t sleep — then ended up oversleeping Thursday morning as a result.
“I think she’s just really scared,” the attorney said. “She’s never been arrested, and she’s just really scared.”
Taylor’s mother picked her up and called Ellenson — and the plan was back on. They walked down 26th Street and into the jail just before noon, with Taylor handing over her water bottle to a Sheriff’s Office lieutenant.
Morgan, for his part, said he was glad it all worked out.
“They delivered her as promised — a little late, but that’s to be expected sometimes,” the sheriff said in the jail’s lobby. “I’m pleased with the negotiated agreement.”
Though Morgan had strongly urged the family to find her — and began making calls to say she hadn’t turned herself in as agreed — he said he “wasn’t overly concerned” that she wasn’t there on time.
“This isn’t my first rodeo,” Morgan said.
After being processed by the sheriff’s office for the next hour and a half —including having her fingerprints and mugshot taken — Taylor appeared by video conference before the Newport News Magistrate for a bail hearing at about 1:30 p.m.
Chief Magistrate Kara Akins went through a “bail determination checklist,” a list of factors to determine what the bond amount should be for release.
Taylor said she’s lived in Hampton Roads all her life and has all her family here. For the last three months, she said, she’s been working one night a week at a Hampton restaurant, the Charm’d Lounge.
“It does not appear that you have ever been convicted of a crime, is that correct?” Akins asked.
“Yes, ma’am,” Taylor responded. “I am not a criminal.”
The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office had previously recommended Taylor’s bond at $5,000 with surety —including $4,000 for the felony and $1,000 for the misdemeanor.
Circuit Court Judge Bryant L. Sugg signed off on that request Monday, saying “the magistrate shall set the bail terms” at that level “unless circumstances exist that require more restrictive terms.”
Akins followed through on that recommendation Thursday, setting Taylor’s bond at $5,000. Under the typical bail bondsman fee, she had to pay about 10% of that amount — or $500 — to get out.
As part of her release conditions, Akins also ordered her not to possess a gun or dangerous weapon.
Taylor’s bail bondsman, Kevin Owens, said she walked out of the City Jail just before 2:30 p.m. She has an arraignment scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday in Newport News Circuit Court.
The Jan. 6 shooting at Richneck garnered headlines across the country and around the world.
As the 6-year-old sat at his desk at 2 p.m., he suddenly pulled a gun out of his front hoodie pocket, pointed it at Zwerner — seated at a reading table less than 10 feet away — and fired a single round.
The bullet went through Zwerner’s left hand — which she held up as the boy opened fire — and then struck her in the upper chest and shoulder, where it remains today.
Zwerner managed to shuttle about 18 students out of the first grade classroom before seeking help at a school office. She was released from the hospital about 10 days later.
Police Chief Steve Drew has said the boy used his mother’s handgun, a Taurus 9 mm — legally purchased in York County — in the shooting.
Ellenson said Taylor maintains she kept the gun secured by a trigger lock, a mechanism that prevents the weapon from being fired.
The attorney also asserts the handgun was stored on the top shelf of a bedroom closet, out of the child’s reach, with Ellenson saying Taylor has “no idea” how the boy gained access to the gun on the day of the shooting.
