No one was injured, and the child was quickly stopped by a teacher. Police Chief Joseph Bialy said the child’s parent, a police officer from a neighbouring jurisdiction, had been taken into custody. The gun was not a service weapon.

Bialy said there appeared to be no ill intent, but described footage of the incident as “shocking”.

“I don’t think there was any ill intent by truly anyone involved,” he said. “I think it really falls back on safe security of a firearm, making sure that we know where our firearms are located, that they are not accessible to anyone.”

The daycare will increase security and search backpacks.