Toddler Places Gun in Mouth at Virginia Daycare While Staff Use Phones

A toddler at a Virginia daycare put a loaded gun in their mouth while caregivers were distracted by their cell phones, according to a report from the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS).

The incident occurred on September 25 at Thrive Learning Center in Richmond. The daycare operator, Martha Evans, reportedly brought the firearm to work and kept it in a fanny pack that was often left accessible to children. The report states Evans had been bringing the gun to the facility for nearly four months.

On the day of the incident, the fanny pack was left unzipped on a low stack of cots. A two-year-old child removed the gun and placed it in their mouth, holding it for approximately 15 seconds before a staff member noticed and retrieved the weapon. At the time, three staff members were present in the room; two were reportedly looking at their phones, and the third was attending to another child.

The daycare operator, Martha Evans, was arrested on October 7 and charged with felony possession of a firearm at a school and misdemeanor reckless handling of a firearm. She has since been released on bond, with a court date scheduled for December 15.

The VDSS report also identified several other violations at Thrive Learning Center. These included immunization record deficiencies for two children, lack of emergency contact information for one child, inadequate tuberculosis screening for one staff member, and delayed orientation and training for another.

Additionally, on the same day the toddler accessed the gun, another 14-month-old child was reportedly left napping unsupervised behind a closed door.

The VDSS has ordered Thrive Learning Center to implement a plan of correction, which may include extensive staff training, if the facility intends to remain open.