A 3-year-old at Children's World Early Learning Center in Canton Township found a loaded, holstered handgun in a classroom backpack on Sept. 28 and passed it to other children before a teacher removed it. No one was injured. Wayne County charged the father, Detroit officer Brandon John Ely, with fourth-degree child abuse and the mother, Rabab Ibrahim Al Zayad, with unsafe storage of a firearm. Both were arraigned Oct. 1, given $10,000 bonds, ordered to surrender firearms and face a follow-up hearing on Oct. 30.
3-Year-Old Brings Loaded Handgun Into Canton Daycare — Parents Charged
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A 3-year-old boy removed a loaded, holstered handgun from a backpack stored in a classroom at Children's World Early Learning Center in Canton Township on Sept. 28 and passed the weapon to other children before a teacher intervened, prosecutors say. No one was injured and no shots were fired.
Canton Public Safety officers responded that morning after staff reported a toddler with a firearm inside the daycare. Police secured the weapon and launched an investigation that initially led to the arrest of one parent.
The parents: The child's father, Brandon John Ely, 28, is a Detroit police officer. The mother is identified as Rabab Ibrahim Al Zayad, 27. Authorities say the handgun recovered was not Ely's department-issued firearm.
What prosecutors say happened
Prosecutors allege the child found the unsecured, holstered handgun inside a backpack kept in the classroom. After removing it, the toddler handed the firearm to other children until a supervising teacher noticed and took the weapon away. No injuries were reported.
"These are the charges that we will be able [to] prove in court of law beyond a reasonable doubt," Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said, adding, "It is very unsettling to think about what may have happened in this case."
Canton Police Chief Joseph Bialy praised the daycare staff and their protocols, saying the teacher's calm, correct actions helped prevent a far more serious outcome.
Charges, court actions and safety measures
Wayne County charged Ely with one count of fourth-degree child abuse, a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail. Al Zayad was charged with unsafe storage of a firearm, a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days. Both parents were arraigned Oct. 1 in 35th District Court before Judge Joe Barone, received $10,000 personal bonds, and were ordered not to possess firearms while the case is pending. Their next court date is Oct. 30.
At the hearing Ely said he keeps nine guns in three safes at home. His attorney asked that he be allowed to retain a firearm for police duty with off-duty storage at his department; the judge denied the request and ordered the firearms surrendered. Ely has been placed on restricted duty without a firearm pending the case.
Children's World told families the supervising teacher remained calm and followed center safety procedures. The daycare disenrolled the family and said it added extra precautions, including bag searches. Canton police said there is no ongoing threat related to the incident.
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