Airport Baggage Handler Allegedly Stole Guns From Luggage

A baggage handler loads luggage onto an airplane

A baggage handler who worked for a contractor at Portland International Airport was arrested after authorities said that he stole six guns from passengers' luggage over a two-month period. After receiving reports of the stolen weapons, the police zeroed in on Deshawn Kelly as a suspect and set up a sting operation to catch him in the act.

Police hid a replica gun in luggage on September 11th, and when it went missing, they believed that Kelly was the culprit. Six days later they hid another fake weapon and watched as Kelly took that bag along with a second bag that also contained a gun.

Police arrested Kelly at his home, and he admitted to stealing the weapons. He told the officers that he stole the guns because he needed money to pay the rent and electricity bill for his son and the boy's mother. He said that the two were about to evicted from their home.

Kelly, who is a convicted felon, was charged with six counts each of first-degree theft and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Photo: Getty Images


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