A parent has been arrested after police say their child was found with a loaded gun at a Michigan daycare center.
Officers were called to the daycare shortly after the child was found armed inside the Canton facility on Monday morning, Sept. 24, according to a news release shared by the Canton Police Department.
“Officers quickly arrived at the scene, seized the weapon, and began an investigation that led to the arrest of one of the child’s parents,” the department said.
Police did not name the child’s parent in the press release.
The other parent, who was not arrested, is a police officer in a nearby jurisdiction, Canton Police Cmdr. Joseph Bialy confirmed, according to the Detroit Free Press.
The incident reportedly took place at the Children’s World Early Learning Centre.
“We are extremely lucky that no one was hurt in this incident,” said Bialy, in the newspaper. “A child should never have that firearm. We’re so lucky we didn’t have an incident there.”
According to a message from the daycare center director, staff realized the child had a gun after the child took it out of their backpack, WDIV-TV reported. The weapon was reportedly in a holster.
After noticing the weapon, they responded to secure the firearm, the center director said.
“Most importantly, no one was hurt or hurt,” the statement from the daycare said, according to the TV station. “The lead teacher remained calm and followed the appropriate safety response.”
As a result of the incident, the child’s family is no longer registered with the daycare facility “as a duty to maintain the safety and security of the children and all staff,” the center said.
Detectives with the Canton Police Department are continuing to investigate the incident.
The case “will be forwarded to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office for review once the investigation is complete,” the department said.
It was not immediately clear how the child got access to a loaded firearm.
“The Canton Police Department wants to assure the community that there is no ongoing theta related to this incident,” the agency said in its press release. “The Canton Police Department remains committed to thoroughly investigating all firearm-related crimes, taking these cases with the utmost seriousness.”
Canton is about 30 miles west of Detroit.