2-year-old put loaded gun in mouth at Richmond daycare, records say

A 2-year-old at Thrive Learning Center East in Richmond, Virginia, accessed a loaded gun left in an unzipped fanny pack on a low stack of cots and put it in their mouth before placing it near five other children. State records say the child held the gun for about 15 seconds before a staff member took it away; staff had not noticed because two were looking at their phones and another had her back turned. The daycare administrator, identified in some reports as Martha Evans, was arrested and faces charges related to possessing a firearm on school property and reckless handling. Records also say the incident was reported to authorities four days later, despite a 24-hour reporting requirement, and inspectors cited other violations at the center.



