Thursday, 6 August 2026, 16:39
RICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. — Deputies executing a search warrant at a Columbia home made a disturbing find: a modified handgun lying inside the crib of a 10-month-old child. The Richland County Sheriff's Department said the weapon had been altered with a Glock switch, effectively turning it into a fully automatic machine gun.
The raid took place around 7 a.m. in the 1700 block of Van Heist Street. Investigators located two guns in the child's bedroom, one in a closet and the other in the crib. Both had been modified to accept a Glock switch, and a switch was found with Gibson's belongings.
Sheriff Leon Lott identified the suspect as Karlos Gibson, 20. Gibson was taken to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. He received a $2,500 surety bond on the machine gun possession charge and a $1,000 personal recognizance bond on the child endangerment charge.
According to the sheriff's department, Gibson was already on an ankle monitor as a bond condition related to a homicide case. A separate report from FOX 17 News identifies Gibson as a man charged in a 2023 triple homicide, adding a grim layer to the current arrest.
Although this incident took place in South Carolina, it serves as a stark reminder for California families. California law requires gun owners to store firearms in a locked container or with a trigger lock when children are likely to be present. Violations can lead to felony charges, especially if a child gains access to a loaded weapon.
In California, the penalty for allowing a child to access a firearm can be up to one year in jail or imprisonment, and the state has some of the strictest safe storage laws in the nation. This case highlights the importance of keeping guns away from children, regardless of state lines.
FOX 17 News reports that Gibson is also charged in a triple homicide that occurred in 2023. The connection between that case and the current firearm charges has not been fully detailed. The ankle monitor indicates he was under court supervision while awaiting trial. The new charges could complicate his legal standing.
The discovery of a machine gun in a baby's crib is an extreme example of reckless firearm handling. As authorities continue their investigation, the case underscores the need for responsible gun storage and the ongoing threat of modified weapons in communities. Gibson's next court appearance has not yet been announced.
