Prosecutors say the 3-year-old removed the holstered handgun from his backpack and passed it among other children before a worker intervened.
CANTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. — The parents of a 3-year-old boy have been charged with misdemeanors after prosecutors said their son brought a loaded handgun to a suburban Detroit daycare, removed it from his backpack and passed it to other children before a staff member stepped in.
The incident happened Monday, Sept. 28, at Children’s World Early Learning Center in Canton Township. The gun was not fired, and no one was injured. Authorities initially said one parent had been taken into custody while investigators worked to determine how the child gained access to the weapon. By Thursday, prosecutors had filed charges against both parents.
According to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, one parent was charged with violating Michigan’s firearm storage law. The other parent, a police officer in a neighboring jurisdiction, was charged with fourth-degree child abuse for allegedly creating a risk of harm. Both parents appeared in court and were released on bond, according to the Associated Press. Their names were not included in the reports reviewed for this story.
Police Chief Joseph Bialy said surveillance video showed the child taking the loaded pistol, which was inside a holster, out of the backpack. Prosecutors later disclosed that the firearm was passed to other children before a daycare employee noticed what was happening and secured it. Police said the weapon was not the officer parent’s department-issued service firearm.
Bialy praised employees at the daycare for reacting quickly. He said a staff member was in the room, recognized the danger and intervened before anyone was hurt. The chief said the center already had security procedures in place and credited the worker’s response with preventing the situation from becoming more serious.
Children’s World Early Learning Center also praised its staff after the incident. The center said the teacher acted quickly and that no children or employees were injured. Police said the daycare planned to strengthen its procedures by checking backpacks after the incident.
The case drew additional scrutiny because one of the child’s parents works in law enforcement. Police initially declined to say which parent had been arrested, and an early version of an Associated Press report incorrectly identified the detained parent as the officer. AP later corrected that information. Authorities also said the neighboring law enforcement agency employing the parent was conducting its own internal review.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said the case underscored the danger created when children can reach firearms. Michigan law requires firearms to be secured under certain circumstances when minors are present. Her office has handled nearly two dozen cases involving children gaining access to guns since 2024, according to the prosecutor’s office as reported by AP.
The charges against the parents are accusations and do not establish guilt. Court proceedings will determine whether prosecutors can prove the misdemeanor allegations. Authorities have not reported any injuries connected to the daycare incident, and police said there was no continuing threat to children or the surrounding community.
Author note: Last updated October 2, 2026.