Scotty McCreery Releases Statement After Carrying Loaded Gun At Airport

“American Idol” winner Scotty McCreery recently released a statement after he was cited for trying to carry a loaded gun at the airport.

On July 13, the 23-year-old country singer arrived at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina a day after his trip to the firing range. He claimed to have forgotten to remove the loaded weapon from his backpack, according to The News & Observer. Upon inspection of his luggage, the screen revealed that McCreery also had two boxes of ammo that contained a total of 63 bullets.

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According to People, the Season 13 winner of the former FOX reality TV competition had a permit to carry a concealed handgun. However, he was cited for a misdemeanor violation for carrying the firearm through the airport and then attempting to board the plane with it.

In his statement to the publication, McCreery said that he has been holding a permit ever since he was robbed at gunpoint in 2014. During that time, an armed gunman entered his off-campus home and demanded wallets, money and electronics. McCreery, who was a student at Raleigh’s North Carolina State University, was with his roommates at the time of the break-in.

It was later on revealed that the suspect was then-19-year-old Raleigh resident, Mikkail Jamal Shaw. He was charged with conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon and robbery with a dangerous weapon, according to People.

“I have been a concealed carry permit holder for a while now after being robbed at gunpoint in 2014, and I take gun safety very seriously. While in-between tour dates last week, I went to go target shooting with a friend a few days before an early flight out of my hometown Raleigh-Durham airport. Unfortunately, I did not realize that I left my pistol in my backpack until the TSA found it during security x-ray screening and rightly confiscated it. I had my concealed carry permit on me so once they had checked everything out, they then released me to catch the next available flight. Great to know our airport security force is on the job. I have learned a lesson that I won’t forget,” he said.