Indianapolis woman allegedly pulled a gun at Once Upon a Child because her kid couldn’t play with the toys

An Indianapolis woman has been charged after allegedly pulling a gun out on children’s store employees because they said her kid couldn’t play with the store’s toys.

Tamya Staten, 21, was charged this week in Marion County with felony intimidation and pointing a firearm.

If convicted on both counts, Staten faces up to 8.5 years in prison.

On July 16, an employee tripped the quiet holdup alarm at the Once Upon a Child store on 86th Street, prompting IMPD officers to respond. Upon arriving, an employee began recounting how Staten had drawn a firearm and threatened her with it.

Staten reportedly entered the business to sell clothing and had her toddler with her. While dropping off items, the employee noticed Staten’s toddler playing with a small motorised car toy.

The employee informed Staten that it was against shop policy for children to play with toys in-store, and Staten reportedly replied, “Okay.” However, the employee stated that she continued to let her child play with the automobile toy.

After the clerk reminded the mother of the store guideline, Staten allegedly pulled out a “large black handgun” from her purse and placed it in her leggings. According to court documents, she threatened to shoot an employee and poked him in the face with her finger. We can fight over it. “We can get down,” Staten allegedly stated. “I can use this [gun].”

According to the employee, Staten continued to threaten and become furious, eventually removing the revolver from her pants and pointing it at colleagues. She then reportedly encouraged her toddler to continue playing with the item and demonstrated how it worked.

After that, Staten slipped the handgun into her tights, grabbed up her toddler, and exited the store. Surveillance tape reportedly captured the entire incident, including Staten driving away in her 2011 Jeep Patriot.

Police were subsequently able to identify Staten as the perpetrator of the intimidation by utilising both her licence plate number and the ID card she provided to staff before dropping off clothes. She was formally charged Tuesday in Marion Superior Court 31 with the following: