A 2-year-old child at a daycare center in Richmond, Virginia, found a loaded gun that was brought by an employee. This happened toward the end of September, according to state records.

Even more shocking, the child put the gun in their mouth.

The incident happened on Friday, September 25th, at Thrive Learning Center East LLC. It operates as a preschool and a daycare for children from six weeks old.

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 put the barrel of the gun into their mouth. With the gun still in the child’s mouth, they walked over to a table near five kids sitting on the floor. The toddler put the gun down and then picked it up again.

The incident took place in about a 15-second time period. While this was happening, the administrator and another staff member were distracted by their phones, according to the Virginia Department of Social Services.

Eventually, the staff member realized the child had the administrator’s firearm. The staff member took the gun and gave it to the administrator, according to the Department of Social Services.

The incident wasn’t reported to DSS for four days. State law requires incidents like that to be reported within 24 hours.

Richmond Police Department detectives assisted Child Protective Services in investigating the incident 5 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.

The investigation is ongoing.

“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.’” ABC 8 News Reported.

ABC 8 News Reported:

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A 2-year-old child found and put a staff member’s loaded gun in their mouth while at a Richmond daycare in late September, according to state records.

The incident took place on Friday, Sept. 25, at Thrive Learning Center East, LLC in Richmond, per the Virginia Department of Social Services (DSS). On its website, the facility describes itself as a daycare and preschool for kids as young as six weeks old.

That day, an administrator brought a loaded gun to the facility in their fanny pack and left said fanny pack, unzipped, on a low stack of cots in a classroom, about 31 inches from the floor. DSS said they regularly brought this gun to work with them and that it was often left within childrens’ reach.

State temporarily shuts down Richmond daycare after 2-year-old put director’s loaded gun in mouth https://t.co/Vc2Dy4HKYq

— 8News WRIC Richmond (@8NEWS) October 19, 2026