Garrick Donnell Thomas (Photo source: Gulfport Police Dept.)
GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -
A convicted murderer who brought a handgun to the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport Sunday morning told police he found the gun, and wanted to turn it in to authorities.
Gulfport Police tell WLOX News Garrick Donnell Thomas went into the airport, and placed the semi-automatic 9mm handgun on a counter in front of an airport employee. The magazine was unloaded, but Thomas took the magazine out and also set it on the counter. The employee then immediately notified police.
Thomas told police he was walking from his girlfriend's house and found the gun, but didn't have a phone to call police. So he decided to go to the airport where he knew there was security.
Officials said he was not booked on a flight, and did not get through security,
He was approaching the TSA screening area when he took out the gun and put it on the counter.
After further investigation, detectives learned Thomas was convicted of murder in Harrison County in 1996 and was currently out on parole.
Thomas is now being held at the Harrison County Adult Detention Center pending a hearing with the department of corrections probation and parole division.
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