2-year-old finds loaded gun at Richmond daycare, state cites safety failures

A 2-year-old child at Thrive Learning Center East in Richmond accessed a loaded firearm that was inside an administrator's unzipped fanny pack, according to a Virginia Department of Social Services inspection report shared by local12.com.

The child held the gun for about 15 seconds, even putting the barrel in their mouth, before staff noticed. The child then placed the firearm on a table near five other children, the report said. No discharge or injuries were reported.

The fanny pack was placed on a low stack of classroom cots about 31 inches off the floor, making the gun accessible to children. The administrator had reportedly brought the firearm to the center regularly for nearly four months and routinely left it accessible.

The report also found that about 30 seconds before the incident, three staff members were distracted—two looking at their phones and one with their back turned—resulting in inadequate supervision.

Additionally, the center failed to report the incident to the Department of Social Services within the required 24 hours, notifying the state four days later. The gun was subsequently removed from the area and secured in a lock box.

The state cited Thrive Learning Center East for failing to keep the firearm out of children's reach, inadequate supervision, and delayed mandated reporting. Other violations found during an October 8 inspection included leaving children unsupervised and incomplete vaccination records.

As part of the corrective actions, all staff will be trained or retrained on mandated reporting requirements and other safety protocols, according to the Department of Social Services.