TSA Finds Gun Parts In Stuffed Animals At T.F. Green Airport: Ploy Was Part Of Domestic Dispute

Federal officials at Warwick, R.I.'s T.F Green Airport said gun parts and ammunition were found and confiscated inside three stuffed animals stuffed in a child's carry-on bag.

Transportation Security Administration officials said they brought the father of the child into custody. The unidentified man claimed he was unaware of the items were in his child's animals.

He indicated to law enforcement he was unaware these items were in the stuffed toys, said Ann Davis of the T.S.A., reported WCBTV

The TSA said that the man and his son were hopping on a plane to Detroit when an officer noticed the disassembled gun artfully concealed inside several stuff animals, including a teddy bear, a rabbit and a Mickey Mouse, reported the Associated Press.

The stuffed animals were inside the child's carry-on bag, which had been put through an X-ray machine as part of standard security procedures.

Authorities said that a .40-caliber gun was discovered inside one of the stuffed animals. A magazine loaded with two rounds and the firing pin was found in another and the slide was found inside the third.

The parts could have been assembled to make the firearm work, reported WCBTV.

Officials began investigating and found evidence that coincided with the man's story.

It appears to be the result of a domestic dispute, Rhode Island Airport Police Chief Leo Messier said, reported WCBTV. It was jointly investigated by the RI Airport Police, FBI and the RI State Police and it was determined that there was no threat at any time to air safety.

The unidentified couple was reportedly engaged, but involved in a dispute that had apparently escalated.

The guns were confiscated and the man and his son were allowed to board the flight after three hours.

Authorities have not made an arrest in incident, but they are still investigating.

This is just another example that threats can appear anywhere, and this is why TSA officers take a closer look at everything, the agency said in a news release, reported WGAl. It's also an example that shows that even though TSA has modified the screening process for children 12 and under, the security process is still just as effective.