The Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas. Photo Credit: V.I. CONSORTIUM.
ST. THOMAS — A Florida resident was arrested at the end of his vacation after Customs and Border Protection officials found a loaded gun in his luggage.
According to court documents, Khalil Gunn turned up at the Cyril E. King Airport on September 13 to board his American Airlines flight back to Miami International Airport. After check-in, Mr. Gunn went to have his bags x-rayed by Customs and Border Protection officers. The CBP officers noticed what appeared to be a firearm in the bag, and a subsequent physical examination confirmed their suspicion. Officers recovered a black Glock 43X 9mm pistol, with a round chambered and more in the magazine.
Homeland Security Investigations agents were then called in to question Mr. Gunn. He told them that he had brought the gun to St. Thomas for protection during the vacation he was taking with his girlfriend. He reportedly did not declare the firearm after landing in St. Thomas, despite being alerted of the need to do so by his girlfriend. According to the accusations against him, when he returned to the airport for his outbound flight, Mr. Gunn knew the undeclared firearm was fitted with the loaded magazine, but he was unsure of whether a round had been chambered.
Mr. Gunn was ultimately arrested and charged with failure to declare a firearm and the federal offense of entry by false pretenses. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Ruth Miller, who allowed Mr. Gunn's release on a personal recognizance bond. His travel is restricted to the districts of St. Thomas and Northern Florida only, and he must surrender his passport until the matter has been concluded. A date for future hearings has not yet been set.
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