Virginia regulators have temporarily closed a Richmond daycare after a 2-year-old child reportedly found a loaded firearm and placed it in his mouth, prompting criminal charges against the facility's director.
Thrive Learning Center East, which serves children as young as six weeks, has been shuttered since Oct. 1 while the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) conducts an investigation, according to state officials.
State records show the incident occurred on Sept. 25, when an administrator brought a loaded gun to the facility in a fanny pack. The Virginia Department of Social Services (DSS) did not name the administrator, but Richmond police confirmed the arrest of 66-year-old Martha Evans, identified on the center's website as co-owner and director.
According to DSS, Evans left the fanny pack unzipped on a low stack of cots, roughly 31 inches from the floor, and that she routinely brought the weapon to work, often leaving it within children's reach. A 2-year-old removed the gun and placed it barrel-first into his mouth, then walked to a table where five other children were seated. The child briefly set the gun down before picking it up again, all within about 15 seconds.
During that time, Evans and another staff member were reportedly looking at their phones, while a third staff member had their back turned, helping another child with socks. One staff member eventually noticed the child with the gun, jumped up, and took it from him, handing it back to Evans.
Staff waited four days to report the incident to DSS, violating a state requirement to report within 24 hours. Evans was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm at a child daycare center and reckless storage of a firearm.
VDOE issued a statement emphasizing that child safety is paramount and that state law clearly prohibits unsecured firearms around young children in childcare settings. The agency said it immediately launched an investigation with Child Protective Services, conducted a follow-up visit the next day, and recommended the strongest possible consequences. Thrive has not operated since Oct. 1 and will remain closed during administrative proceedings.
The closure comes amid a broader pattern of violations at the center. DSS cited 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 issues included an unattended open gate to the kitchen while oil boiled on the stove, a sharp metal strip hanging from a trailer roof within children's reach, peeling table surfaces with exposed metal, unsecured disinfectant sprays, children left unattended while sleeping or playing outside, poor hygiene practices, missing emergency contact and allergy information, and incomplete background checks for staff.
The case has drawn attention to lax oversight of daycare firearm policies, with state officials vowing to use their full authority to keep children safe. Lawmakers have previously debated tightening childcare regulations, but this incident highlights gaps in enforcement. As midterm politics heat up, such safety failures may become a talking point for candidates seeking to highlight regulatory failures.
