RICHMOND — The mother of a Richmond teenager who shot himself after exchanging gunfire with police inside a school in late 2018 will not serve any prison time as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors.
According to court documents, 44-year-old Mary York on Wednesday pleaded guilty to four felony counts of neglect of a dependent.
A Wayne Superior Court judge on Wednesday sentenced York to serve 2.5 years in prison but suspended the prison sentence and ordered York to serve the time on probation. According to the judge's order, if York successfully completes the probation her conviction will be converted to Class A misdemeanors instead of felonies.
York called Richmond Police on Dec. 13, 2018, to report her 14-year-old son was armed, had taken a family members hostage and was on his way to Dennis Intermediate School to "shoot up the school."
Police were able to get to the school, which was in session. The teenager shot out a glass door to gain entry to the building and once inside exchange gunfire with officers. The boy then shot and killed himself.
Charges against York were filed about 10 months after the incident.
The investigation found that York's son had taken guns from the home and gone to the school with them. It also found that York was aware her son had mental health issues — an issue York contested.
