Tampa Police say a loaded gun left in an Ybor City movie theater bathroom over the weekend belongs to a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s detective.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office identified the detective as 38-year-old Luke Hussey, a 13-year-veteran.
Zane Noland, 9, found the handgun inside a bathroom at the Muvico Theater in Centro Ybor shortly after 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
The boy alerted his father, who retrieved the loaded Glock 26 and called 911, according to police. Officers arrived and took possession of the weapon.
"That's very disheartening for him and HCSO," said Wesley Noland, whose son discovered the gun, upon hearing the news about the gun owner. "That's not a mistake you want to make in that type of career.”
Police say the detective contacted them, saying he placed the gun on the toilet paper dispenser while using the restroom and accidentally forgot the weapon.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said by the time Hussey realized his mistake and went looking for the gun, he was told by the movie manager Tampa officers had already arrived and impounded it.
Hussey was off duty and attending a movie, police say. The gun was his personal firearm.
"The policy is pretty simple,” said Larry McKinnon, HCSO spokesperson. “If you're going to carry a firearm you are responsible for it. Whether you are on duty or off duty, a firearm is a firearm. And you are responsible for the cleaning, the upkeep, and the security of that firearm."
Tampa Police will turn the weapon over to the sheriff's office for them to handle the incident administratively.
The sheriff’s office says it has already begun an administrative investigation to determine any policy violations that may have occurred.
Noland, who has a concealed weapons permit, said his son did exactly what he taught him to do.
"He's told me not to touch them, if I don't own the gun, and I'm only allowed to touch them if he allows me to touch them,” said Zane.