Parents of toddler who brought loaded handgun to Michigan daycare are to be arraigned on Thursday

From the Newshound archive · first published 30 September 2026 · last updated 1 October 2026.

The parents of a toddler who walked into Children's World Early Learning Center in Canton, Detroit, on Monday with a loaded, holstered handgun in his backpack are set to be arraigned Thursday, after a teacher spotted and secured the weapon. Canton Police Chief Joseph Bialy confirmed that one of the child's parents serves as a police officer in the Detroit area. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office expects a judge to approve charges Thursday morning, ahead of both parents' arraignment that afternoon.

Chief Bialy called surveillance footage of the toddler handling the gun 'shocking' but said he saw no 'ill intent'.

Michigan law requires firearms to be secured when children are present, with significantly steeper penalties if a child is shot.

The daycare, which praised the teacher whose quick action averted any injury, said it will now conduct backpack checks.