An administrator was later charged after state inspectors said the firearm had been left inside an unzipped bag within children’s reach.
RICHMOND, Va. — A 2-year-old at a Richmond daycare gained access to a loaded handgun and put it in their mouth before carrying it toward other children, according to state inspection records that have prompted criminal charges against a center administrator.
The incident happened Sept. 25 at Thrive Learning Center East on Cofer Road in South Richmond, according to records reviewed by local news outlets. Investigators said the firearm had been left inside an unzipped fanny pack on a low stack of cots that was accessible to children. The child reportedly handled the gun for about 15 seconds before a staff member noticed and took it away.
State records said the toddler removed the firearm from the bag, put the barrel in their mouth and then walked toward a table where five other children were nearby. The child placed the gun on the table and picked it up again before an employee intervened, according to the inspection findings. No shooting was reported, and the reviewed reports did not identify any child as physically injured.
The Virginia Department of Social Services report said the administrator and another staff member had been looking down at their phones shortly before the child reached the weapon. A third worker had their back turned while helping another child. Eight children were being cared for by the administrator and two other staff members at the time, according to the records.
Investigators also said the administrator had regularly brought the firearm to the daycare in the fanny pack and had previously left the bag where children could reach it. After staff recovered the gun on Sept. 25, it was placed in a lock box and removed from the building, according to the inspection report.
Richmond police identified the administrator as Martha Evans. Police said Evans was arrested Oct. 7 and charged with possession of a firearm at a school and reckless handling of a firearm. The charges are allegations, and the available records do not establish guilt. Evans was later released from custody and is expected to return to court Dec. 15, according to WTVR.
The state inspection also found that the daycare did not report the firearm incident within the required 24-hour period. Social Services was instead notified Sept. 29, four days after the incident, according to records cited by AZFamily and 12 On Your Side. Inspectors also cited the center for other issues during an Oct. 8 review, including inadequate supervision and problems with vaccination documentation.
As part of a corrective plan, the daycare said staff would be retrained on mandatory reporting requirements and procedures for contacting law enforcement, Social Services and the child abuse and neglect hotline. The center also committed to a zero-tolerance policy for firearms and other weapons on daycare property and said it would seek safety training from Richmond police.
Thrive Learning Center East opened in March and was operating under a provisional license, according to records reviewed by WTVR. The station reported that the center was closed when a reporter visited after the inspection findings became public. The Virginia Department of Education was asked for information about the center’s licensing status, but no updated determination was included in the reports reviewed.
The criminal case against Evans remains pending, while questions about the daycare’s licensing status and the state’s response to the inspection findings remain unresolved. Authorities have not announced additional criminal charges connected to the incident.
Author note: Last updated October 19, 2026.