DETROIT – A man who was traveling with his 4-year-old son to Detroit were stopped Monday when TSA agents discovered three stuffed animals were filled with more than just fluff.
In a statement about the incident, TSA said the gun and gun parts were found during screening of the 4-year-old's carry-on bag at the T.F. Green International Airport (PVD) in Providence, Rhode Island.
A teddy bear, rabbit and Mickey Mouse each had a gun component and ammunition, TSA said.
"It appears to be the result of a domestic dispute," said Rhode Island Airport Chief Leo Messier. "It was jointly investigated by the Rhode Island Airport Police, the FBI and Rhode Island State Police. It was determined that there was no threat to air safety at any time."
A search turned up "the main frame of a .40 caliber firearm inside one animal, a magazine loaded with two .40 caliber rounds and a firing pin inside the second stuffed animal and a slide inside the third animal."
Police determined that the firearm could be assembled completely with all of the components inside the stuffed animals.
Law enforcement officers interviewed the man, who stated that he was unaware that there were gun parts inside of the toys.
The items were confiscated and the police allowed the two passengers to continue their flight. A police investigation is ongoing.