By: Madeline Miller
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WTKR) — Deja Taylor, the mother of the 6-year-old boy who police say shot his teacher at Richneck Elementary School, has posted bond after being taken into custody, according to the Newport News Sheriff’s Office.
Deja Taylor is charged with felony child neglect and misdemeanor recklessly leaving a loaded firearm to endanger a child (Richmond Police/WTKR)
Taylor turned herself in and was taken into custody at the Newport News City Jail on Thursday, April 13, the Sheriff’s Office confirmed just before 1 p.m. on Thursday.
“By agreement with the Commonwealth’s Attorney and under the supervision of my office, Ms. Taylor, escorted by her attorney, turned herself in this morning at the Newport News City Jail,” said Sheriff Gabe Morgan.
On Monday, April 10, a grand jury indicted Taylor, according to the Newport News Commonwealth’s Attorney Howard Gwynn. She faces the following charges in connection to the Richneck Elem. shooting, according to Gwynn: felony child neglect and a misdemeanor count of recklessly leaving a firearm as to endanger a child.
The following day on Tuesday, April 11, Taylor’s attorney James Ellenson shared that she was turning herself in “later this week.”
Taylor’s bond was set at $5,000, according to court documents. Ellenson called the bond, and Gwynn’s recommendation for Taylor to have pre-trial supervision, “reasonable.”
We confirmed around 3 p.m. that she had posted bond, and has been released from custody.
This story was originally published April 13 by WTKR in Norfolk, an E.W. Scripps Company.
