The gun, a 9mm handgun, was found by a Target employee in a toy aisle of the store.
According to a police report, an employee at the Myrtle Beach store reported on May 30 that he was investigating a possible theft when he noticed a black handgun on top of a superhero toy box.
The employee told officers he had seen a man repeatedly walking around that section of the store and looking as though he was fidgeting, but authorities said they didn't know if that man had put the gun among the toys.
Myrtle Beach police Capt. David Knipes said Thursday detectives continue to investigate who left the gun in the store and why.
The employee told police he was in the toy section when he noticed an empty wrapper and he thought someone had stolen the item, according to the report.
The employee was looking for the merchandise from the empty wrapper when he saw the handgun on a shelf.
The gun was laying in a toy box in plain view and at first the employee thought the gun was a toy, according to the report. The employee said he then noticed the gun was fully loaded.
'We take these matters very seriously and we are partnering with local law enforcement on this incident,' Molly Snyder, a Target spokeswoman, said in a statement.
'Because this matter is under investigation, we are unable to share additional information.'
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.
Posts
