Officials say a Pennsylvania man, identified as Robert Kellerman from Long Pond, was taken into custody just after 6 a.m. on Sunday after screeners noticed a loaded gun in his carry-on bag. The Newark newspaper, The Sun Ledger reported that authorities were notified after Transportation Security administration screeners saw the .22 caliber handgun at a checkpoint inside Terminal C.
Airline passengers are permitted to travel with firearms only in checked baggage, so Kellerman was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon. He told police he forgot the gun was inside the bag. The Associated Press reported that a telephone number for Kellerman could not be located. As of Sunday night authorities are not sure why the man had the loaded in his possession. It is still yet to be determined if Kellerman had a criminal past.
Although the loaded gun was found, there were no shots fired, and no one injuries. It also remained unclear whether or not there was any delay with passengers going through security once the 59-year-old was pulled aside by TSA.
TSA officials have specific guidelines to follow in the case of firearms located, and the authorities have been especially sensitive after 9/11. Kellerman was arrested and was sent to jail. No additional information was released about how long his detention will be, and what specific charges, despite having an unlawful possession of a weapon, will now be levied at him.
