Toddler Put Loaded Gun in Mouth at Virginia Daycare

A 2-year-old toddler put a loaded gun in their mouth at a Virginia daycare after it was left unattended by a staff member.

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In late September, a 2-year-old toddler at a daycare center in Richmond, Virginia, put a loaded gun in their mouth after finding it unattended. The incident occurred on September 25th at Thrive Learning Center East LLC, a preschool and daycare for children as young as six weeks old.

According to state records, an administrator brought a loaded firearm to the daycare in a fanny pack and left it unzipped within a child’s reach. The 2-year-old took the gun from the fanny pack and placed the barrel of the gun into their mouth. The toddler then walked over to a table near five children sitting on the floor, put the gun down, and picked it up again within a 15-second time period.

During the incident, the administrator and another staff member were distracted by their phones, according to the Virginia Department of Social Services. Eventually, a staff member realized the child had the administrator’s firearm and took it to the administrator. However, the incident was not reported to DSS for four days, which violates state law requiring such incidents to be reported within 24 hours.

Richmond Police Department detectives assisted Child Protective Services in investigating the incident five days after it occurred. Authorities identified the worker as 66-year-old Martha Evans of Richmond. She was charged with possession of a gun at a daycare center and reckless storage of a gun.

Per that website, inspectors found 45 violations at Thrive Learning Center East between early June and mid-September, bringing the daycare’s total listed violations to 56. Of those violations, 25 were marked as repeat violations and 12 were marked as ‘systemic deficiencies.’