QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11) – A Queens man allegedly brought a loaded gun to LaGuardia Airport on Wednesday, according to TSA.
The man's backpack showed the 9mm handgun inside in the initial TSA security check, per officials. The backpack was then diverted to another conveyor belt so law enforcement could check it.
The man then jumped onto the conveyor belt, grabbed the backpack and ran, according to TSA. Officers chased the man, managed to catch him and took the backpack.
Port Authority Police arrived to place him under arrest for weapons violations. The man, from St. Albans, had a ticket to fly to North Carolina, according to TSA.
The security checkpoint was forced to close for five minutes as officers tracked the man down, per officials.
TSA has so far confiscated seven guns at LaGuardia Airport this year.
The man also faces a $15,000 fine along with the charges against him, according to TSA.
Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.
