Virginia authorities have temporarily closed a Richmond daycare after a 2-year-old child found a loaded gun and put it in his mouth, prompting criminal charges and a review that uncovered a string of prior safety failures.
The Thrive Learning Center East, which cares for children as young as 6 weeks, has been non-operational since Oct. 1 while the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) investigates the Sept. 25 incident, according to state records.
The Virginia Department of Social Services (DSS) said an administrator brought the firearm to the facility in a fanny pack. Richmond police identified the administrator as 66-year-old Martha Evans, the daycare's co-owner and director, who was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm at a child daycare center and reckless storage of a firearm.
DSS reported that Evans left the fanny pack unzipped on a low stack of cots, about 31 inches off the floor, and that she routinely brought the gun to work and left it within children's reach. During the incident, a 2-year-old removed the gun and placed it barrel-first into his mouth. The child then walked to a table where five other children were seated, briefly put the gun down, and picked it up again.
The entire sequence lasted about 15 seconds, and during that time Evans and another staff member were looking at their phones, while a third staff member had their back to the child, according to DSS. A staff member eventually noticed the child with the gun and immediately took it away, but the daycare failed to report the incident to DSS within the legally required 24 hours, waiting four days instead.
In a statement, VDOE said it acted swiftly after learning of the allegations, initiating an investigation with Child Protective Services and recommending the strongest possible consequences. The agency emphasized that "the safety of children in child care facilities is paramount to all we do."
The closure comes as state records show the daycare had not passed a clean inspection since March 10. DSS documented 56 violations between early June and Oct. 1, including an Aug. 3 incident where a 3-year-old choked on uncut grapes and had to find the only teacher in the room for help.
Other violations included an open gate to the kitchen with unattended boiling oil, a sharp metal strip hanging from a trailer roof within children's reach, peeling table surfaces with exposed metal, unsecured cleaning supplies, children left unattended while sleeping or playing outside, poor hygiene practices, missing guardian contact information and allergy details, and missing background checks for staff.
Evans is scheduled to appear in court later this month. The daycare remains closed pending the outcome of administrative proceedings.
