NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The mom of a 6-year-old Virginia boy who shot and wounded his instructor had a collection of miscarriages and post-partum despair within the 12 months earlier than the taking pictures, her legal professional mentioned Friday, after she was arraigned on expenses of kid neglect and failing to safe the handgun her son used within the taking pictures.

Police say the boy fired a single shot at his first-grade instructor, Abigail Zwerner, on Jan. 6, placing her within the left hand and chest. She spent two weeks within the hospital and has had 4 surgical procedures because the taking pictures.

The Associated Press is just not figuring out the mom to defend the id of her son. A grand jury indicted the mom this week, and she or he was launched on a $5,000 bond after turning herself in Thursday.

The 25-year-old girl appeared somber and stood along with her fingers clasped behind her again as the 2 expenses in opposition to her have been learn in Newport News Circuit Court. She didn't communicate besides to say “no, sir” in response to a query from the decide. After the listening to, she rapidly walked away from a scrum of reporters and TV cameras with out commenting.

Her legal professional, James Ellenson, mentioned his consumer desires to succeed in a plea settlement with prosecutors and hopes they'll take into account what he referred to as “mitigating circumstances.” He cited numerous miscarriages the girl had, together with one following an ectopic being pregnant that resulted in a hospital keep in January 2022. An ectopic being pregnant happens when a being pregnant develops outdoors the uterus, typically in a fallopian tube. Ellenson mentioned the miscarriages resulted in post-partum despair.

“We’re looking forward to working collaboratively with the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office to resolve the charges,” Ellenson mentioned, including that he's hoping for “something that is fair, something that is just.”

Ellenson has requested a trial earlier than a decide as a substitute of a jury. A trial date of Aug. 15 has been set.

The felony neglect cost is punishable by as much as 5 years in jail. The misdemeanor cost of recklessly storing a firearm is punishable by as much as one 12 months in jail.

Ellenson has mentioned the mom believed her gun, which was legally bought, was secured on a prime shelf in her closet and had a set off lock. It is unclear how the boy obtained the gun and was in a position to take it to highschool on the day of the taking pictures.

Zwerner filed a $40 million lawsuit in opposition to the college system final week, accusing faculty officers of gross negligence and of ignoring a number of warnings from lecturers and others within the hours earlier than the taking pictures that the boy had a gun.

The metropolis prosecutor’s workplace mentioned Tuesday that it's investigating whether or not the “actions or omissions” of any faculty workers may result in prison expenses.

Ellenson mentioned the boy has an “acute disability” and was below a care plan that included his mom, father or grandfather accompanying him to class day-after-day. The week of the taking pictures was the primary when a mum or dad was not at school with him.

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