Deja Taylor, mother of a 6-year-old boy who critically wounded his teacher with a gun in January has been criminally charged, a local prosecutor in Virginia said on Monday.

She has been indicted by a grand jury with a felony child neglect charge and a misdemeanor charge. Earlier, police had said that the gun used in the shooting belonged to Taylor.

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“Every criminal case is unique in its facts, and these facts support these charges, but our investigation into the shooting continues,” Newport News Commonwealth’s Attorney Howard Gwynn said in a statement on Monday. Earlier this month, Gwynn said he would not pursue charges against the student.

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Who is Deja Taylor?

Deja Taylor’s child brought the gun in his school bag to Richneck Elementary School in the city of Newport News on January 6, 2023. He then shot Abigail Zwerner, 25, in the hand and chest during a lesson.

Zwerner was seriously severely injured but survived the shooting. She has sued the school’s principal, assistant principal, and former principal for $40 million, alleging negligence.

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In a statement on Monday, prosecutors said that Taylor had been charged with one charge of felony child neglect and one charge of misdemeanor for “recklessly leaving a loaded firearm so as to endanger a child.” The charges were brought following a thorough investigation into the shooting.  Taylor is 25 years old.

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Taylor’s attorney said she is making arrangements to turn herself in later this week.

Gwynn appealed to a special grand jury to continue an investigation into the incident to see if there were any security lapses that may have contributed to the shooting, according to prosecutors.

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The boy’s family said in a statement that he has an acute disability and was receiving the treatment under court-ordered temporary detention at a medical facility.