A harrowing scene unfolded inside a children's store in Indianapolis. A mother allegedly pulled a gun on employees after they said her toddler couldn't play in the store.
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The Mom Whipped Out a Gun
The New York Post reports the incident took place in July at a Once Upon a Child location in the Indiana city. Tamya Staten was trying to sell her kid's clothes while her toddler rode around the store in a small toy car.
An employee told the 21-year-old Staten that playing with the toy inside violated store policy. That's when the mom allegedly pulled a large black gun from her leggings, according to court documents.
As the footage shows, the mom did not loop her finger around the trigger. She holds the gun by the frame, pointing it at employees.
"We can fight about it," Staten allegedly said. "We can get down."
She then told her child to keep playing. Staten then reportedly poked an employee in the face with her finger.
"I can use this [gun]," she said. She then grabbed her kid and left the store.
Surveillance Footage Helped Police Track the Mother Down
Cameras inside the store filmed the entire incident. The surveillance footage captured Staten driving away, which allowed police to track her down using her license plate number and the ID she showed the store's staff.
On Sep. 29, Staten appeared in Marion County court. She was charged with intimidation with a deadly weapon and pointing a firearm at another person, both felonies.
If Staten is convicted on both counts, she could spend eight and a half years in prison.
Another incident involving children and guns took place earlier this week. A toddler pulled a loaded gun out of his backpack at a Michigan daycare, sending the facility's staff scrambling.
The gun was still in its holster when the child pulled it from the backpack. Daycare staff then intervened quickly to secure the weapon. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.
The authorities have not shared how the toddler obtained the loaded gun, and it is also unclear who owns it.
