Gun found in duffel bag at Key West airport

There were no arrests and no injuries after a KelTec .22-caliber handgun and two loaded magazines were found in a duffel bag being X-rayed at a Key West International Airport security checkpoint on Monday.

An Aviation Security Management Supervisor notified Deputy David Cruz at approximately 1:30 p.m. About the same time, the owner of the gun — a 52-year-old visitor from Tampa — realized he had inadvertently left the gun in his duffel bag. The owner stated he arrived in Key West by private boat on July 1 and placed the gun in the duffel bag upon arrival at a rental house. He stated he forgot while preparing to fly out of Key West that he placed the gun in the bag.

Deputies contacted the State Attorney’s Office and prosecutors stated they would not be prosecuting the case as there no purposeful intent to carry the gun into the checkpoint.

Deputies took custody of the gun and eventually returned it to family member of the owner. The bullets were kept for future destruction.

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]