The mother of a six-year-old boy who shot his teacher in the classroom says her son felt “ignored” in the days leading up to the incident.
Deja Taylor says her child always “really liked” Abby Zwerner but talked a lot in the week before the incident and said she “didn’t listen” to him.
He opened fire on his first grader at Richneck Elementary School in Virginia on Jan. 6, and Zwerner has filed a $40 million lawsuit against the school and the district.
For the first time since the incident, Taylor told Good Morning America that the week before the shooting, her son was suspended for knocking the phone out of his teacher’s hand “in an accident.”
But Zwerner said the child was “violent” in the lawsuit and “threw the cellphone on the ground so hard it cracked and shattered”.
Deja Taylor (centre) says her child always “really liked” Abby Zwerner but talked a lot in the week before the incident and said she “didn’t listen” to him
He opened fire on his first grader at Richneck Elementary School on Jan. 6, and Zwerner has filed a $40 million lawsuit against the school and the district
Her lawsuit also states that the boy had a “history of indiscriminate violence” and that he “attacked students and teachers alike.”
Taylor said her son doesn’t talk about the incident, but does talk about the “day or two before” the shooting.
She said, “He has ADHD.” Some people have it easy. He fell off the wall. Never sit still. He had started on medication and achieved his academic goals.
“He really liked her a lot. I have to say that this week he came home and talked a lot about how he felt ignored.
“He came home and said, ‘Mom, I don’t think she was listening to me.’ That did not please me.’
“He was suspended the next day because he was in class and wanted to say something to her and she asked him to sit back down.”
“He threw up his arms and said, ‘Fine.’ As he raised his arms, he accidentally knocked the phone out of her hand. For this he was suspended. ‘
Family lawyer James Ellenson said the school accepted the boy with full knowledge of his past behavior.
The school reportedly told the family that they no longer needed to be present in the classroom, a request they made in the fall because of the boy’s behavioral problems
Ellenson said, “If they believed all of these behaviors to be true, they should not have allowed him to rise to a higher level.”
“They should have sent him back to kindergarten, maybe even preschool, but at least kindergarten.”
He added that “no adult knows exactly how they got their hands on the gun,” with Taylor confirming the gun was legally purchased and kept under lock and key.
When asked if she felt responsible for the incident, Taylor said, “Yes, of course.”
“This is my son, so as a parent, I’m willing to take responsibility for him because he can’t take responsibility for himself.”
“I really want to apologize and apologize for the fact that she was hurt by what happened.” We kind of developed a relationship with having to be in the classroom. She’s a really smart person.’
The school reportedly told the family that they no longer needed to be present in the classroom, a request they made in the fall because of the boy’s behavioral problems.
Taylor was charged with child neglect, a felony and a misdemeanor for recklessly leaving a firearm to endanger a child. Her trial is scheduled for August.
Zwerner’s lawsuit alleges that officials at the Newport News School District and Richneck Elementary ignored several warnings about the student’s behavior and concerns that he might have a gun.
School board attorneys have filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that their violations are covered under the state’s Workers’ Compensation Act.
They claim that she was approved to receive the benefits but refused them.