Police in South Carolina are asking the public for their help in identifying the person who left a loaded handgun in the toy aisle at a Target store.
The gun, spotted by an employee, was in plain view on top of a superhero Playskool toy box.
The employee told officers he had seen a man repeatedly walking around that section of the store, but authorities said they didn’t know if that man had put the gun among the toys.
Authorities said the 9-mm handgun had not been reported stolen and had eight bullets inside. Officers said they would review security camera footage to try to determine who left the gun in the store.
But the discovery is no accident, officials speculate. The loaded weapon comes as Target and other retailers face pressure to prohibit customers from carrying guns into their stores.
On Wednesday, the group Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America launched a petition asking the company to prevent customers from carrying firearms in Target stores. The petition is unrelated to the discovery of the gun in South Carolina.
A spokeswoman for Target said the safety of its employees and customers are its top priority. Store employees are working with law enforcement in Myrtle Beach to help track down the person who left the gun, spokeswoman Molly Snyder said.
On Thursday, the Myrtle Beach Police Department released a photo of the man they are attempting to identify in reference to the incident.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective H. Jones at 843-918-1911.
SOURCE: ABC/AP | PHOTO CREDIT: Handout, Getty
