The mother of the 6-year-old Virginia boy, who is accused of shooting his teacher in a classroom, is prepared to accept accountability for her son’s behavior.
On Wednesday, Deja Taylor expressed that her child should not be held accountable for the incident.
“I am, as a parent, obviously willing to take responsibility for him because he can’t take responsibility for his self,” Taylor said.
Taylor is currently facing felony child neglect charges and a misdemeanor for recklessly leaving a loaded firearm that endangered a child. The charges were brought on after her son allegedly shot and injured his first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner. According to the police, the child utilized a gun legally purchased by his mother.
According to Taylor, her son “actually really liked” Zwerner. Additionally, she adds that her son’s disruptive behavior occurred because “he felt like he was being ignored.”
“You know, most children, when they are trying to talk to you. And if you easily just brush them off, or you ask them to sit down. Or you’re dealing with something else and you ask them to go and sit down. At 6, you — in your mind — would believe that, ‘Somebody’s not listening to me,’ and you have a tantrum,” Taylor said.
Zwerner suffered gunshot wounds to her hand and chest. The injuries lead to Zwerner being in the hospital for almost two-week and requiring four surgeries. Recently, Zwerner filed a lawsuit against school officials, seeking $40 million in damages. The lawsuit alleges gross negligence on the part of the school officials. Zwerner says that they ignored numerous warnings about the boy displaying a “violent mood” on the day of the shooting.