Gun found at airport was 4th since 2010

WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) -  A gun, detected inside several stuffed animals at T.F. Green airport , has garnered a lot of attention. But, it's not the first weapon security agents have found in the last few years.

Eyewitness News checked with the Transportation Security Administration, which confirmed the weapon found Tuesday was the fourth security agents have detected at the airport since 2010.

According to Public Affairs Manager Ann Davis, TSA agents in 2010 stopped an unloaded gun at the security checkpoint. Then in 2011, one gun was detected at a checkpoint and another was found in checked baggage. That gun, Davis said, was undeclared to the airline, which is required by law.

In addition, Davis said there were nine other instances in those two years in which gun parts detected at the airport, including magazines.

In the latest incident, TSA agents found parts of a disassembled gun hidden inside three stuffed animals. The toys were located inside a four-year-old's carry-on bag.

Rhode Island Airport Police said the main frame of a .40 caliber firearm was inside a stuffed teddy bear, a Mickey Mouse toy had a slide release lever inside, and a stuffed rabbit contained two .40 caliber rounds and a firing pin.

• Related: Gun found in child's toy at T.F. Green

Eyewitness News showed the images of the gun components to the URI Crime lab. Weapons experts said they could not say for certain if the gun could be assembled for firing without actually examining it in person.

As for the investigation, the TSA said after extensive questioning, investigators determined the case involved a domestic custody dispute.

The boy's father told investigators he was unaware the weapon was in his son's bag. The two were released pending further investigation and eventually allowed to board their flight to Detroit.

Officials are now looking at the man’s wife to find out how the disassembled gun got into the stuffed toys.