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A toddler put a loaded gun into their mouth at a nursery while staff were allegedly glued to their phones, authorities say.
The two-year-old managed to search through an unzipped bag and pull out the weapon, according to a disturbing report from the Virginia Department of Social Services.
The horrifying incident unfolded at Thrive Learning Center East in Richmond after daycare operator Martha Evans allegedly brought the loaded weapon into work.
The 66-year-old regularly carried the gun into the nursery in a “fanny bag” which was often left “accessible to children”, the report claimed.
On September 25, Evans allegedly left her bag wide open on a stack of cots just 2.5ft off the ground.
That allowed the toddler to pull out the weapon and put it into their mouth before casually placing it on a table occupied by five other toddlers, state inspectors said.
According to the report, three staff members were in the room as the terrifying scare unfolded.
Two workers were allegedly distracted by their mobile phones while a third was helping another child put on socks.
The toddler held the lethal firearm for around 15 seconds before the third staff member turned around and “jumped up” to snatch the weapon away.
Evans was arrested by cops on October 7 and charged with felony possession of a firearm at a school and misdemeanour reckless handling of a firearm.
She has been released on bond and is scheduled to return to court on December 15, according to court records.
The report revealed the daycare centre broke the department’s mandatory 24-hour reporting window for potential cases of irresponsible care after failing to register the near-miss until September 29, four days after the incident.
State inspectors exposed a series of other shocking failings at the nursery, including one on the very same day the child put a gun in their mouth.
On that occasion, another toddler was left unsupervised behind a closed door while taking a nap.
Inspectors also discovered that out of eight children enrolled at the site, two lacked basic immunisation records.
One of the kids did not even have paperwork listing their parents’ names, who was authorized to pick them up or emergency contact details.
Staff checks were also blasted in the damning report, which revealed one of the three workers lacked proof of a negative tuberculosis test.
Another employee only received basic orientation and training three months after starting the job.
A spokesperson for the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) said: “Ensuring that a child is physically safe is our first and most fundamental responsibility as educators.
“Virginia law is crystal clear that young children should never be around unsecured firearms while in the care of public schools and child care facilities.
“As soon as VDOE was made aware of the allegations of a child accessing a gun at Thrive Learning Center East, VDOE staff immediately initiated an investigation with Child Protective Services and conducted a follow up visit at the center the next day, Wednesday, September 30.
“We then moved through the investigative steps with all appropriate haste, and recommended the strongest possible consequences.”
The nursery reportedly shut last Friday, October 16, as an official probe continues and legal proceedings go ahead.
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