Parents of toddler who had gun at daycare facing charges
The parents of a 3-year-old toddler who was found last week with a loaded gun at a daycare center have both been arraigned on misdemeanor charges before Judge Joe Barone of the 35th District Court in Plymouth.
The father, Brandon John Ely, 28, a Detroit police officer, was charged with one count of fourth-degree child abuse, a misdemeanor punishable by a year in jail. The mother, Rabab Ibrahim Al Zayad, 27, was charged with one count of unsafe storage of a firearm, a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days in jail. Both entered not guilty pleas to the charges.
The family resides in Canton Township.
It is alleged the defendants’ 3-year-old son found and removed a loaded, holstered handgun from his backpack while in a daycare classroom Sept. 28. A teacher at the Children’s World Early Learning Center observed the child displaying the handgun to other children and immediately intervened, secured the weapon and notified Canton police.
Police described the incident, which was captured on video surveillance cameras, as shocking. Investigators said the toddler removed the gun from his backpack which had been stored in the daycare building. The child found the firearm and was showing it to other children. A daycare teacher can be seen on video surveillance tapes immediately intervening and securing the firearm as police were called. The firearm, a Glock pistol, is reportedly registered to Al Zayad, the child’s mother.
“It is very unsettling to think about what may have happened in this case,” Wayne County Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy said in a statement last week. “We are thankful that there was no loss of life at this day care center.”
Barone set bond for each defendant at $10,000 Unsecured Personal and each was ordered to surrender all firearms in their possession to the Canton Police Department while the case is pending.
“While this incident was unintentional, the responsibility for the safe and secure storage of firearms rests unequivocally with the firearm owner,” said Canton Township Director of Police Services Joseph Bialy. “Fortunately, this incident concluded without physical injury; however, it was undoubtedly a traumatic experience for all parties involved. This incident serves as an important reminder of the serious consequences that can result from an unsecured firearm.”
Childrens World Early Learning Center said in a statement that it was working closely with the police and had introduced new security measures, including backpack checks.
“At Childrens World, there is nothing we take more seriously than the safety, security and well-being of the children entrusted to our care. We understand the concerns this event has caused our families, and as educators and parents ourselves, we fully share those feelings.”
The Detroit Police Department said in a statement that Ely had been placed on administrative duty, without access to his gun, while the episode was under review. “If it is determined that the officer violated department policy or the law, that individual will be held accountable,” the statement concluded.
In addition to offering free gun safety locks, the Canton Police Department has additional firearm safety information available at www.cantonmi.gov/329 including a link to various locations around that state that provide free gun safety locks.
