PITTSBURGH, PA – The Allegheny County Police Department has reported two separate incidents at Pittsburgh International Airport involving passengers attempting to pass through security with loaded firearms.
The first incident occurred at 4:10 pm on December 6, when Transportation Security Administration officers detected a loaded Ruger LCP .380 caliber handgun in the carry-on bag of a passenger. The individual, identified as 32-year-old Nicholas Bello of Mt. Lebanon, was found to be without a valid concealed carry permit. Bello faces a misdemeanor charge of carrying a firearm without a license and was released with charges filed via summons.
In a similar incident on December 7 at 5:49 pm, TSA officers discovered a loaded Walther PK .380 caliber handgun in the carry-on bag of 35-year-old Luis Arce from Somerville, MA. Like Bello, Arce did not have a valid concealed carry permit and is facing a misdemeanor charge. He is currently detained in the Allegheny County Jail awaiting preliminary arraignment.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation was notified about both incidents.