Dwight Howard broke one of the biggest rules of flying last week.
Howard was stopped Friday at George Bush Intercontinental Airport for having a gun in his carry-on bag, Houston Police Department spokesperson Kese Smith told ESPN.com on Wednesday.
A further inspection revealed the gun — a Glock 26 9mm — was loaded with one round in the chamber, law enforcement sources told TMZ.
Transportation Security Administration officials reportedly discovered the pistol in the bottom of Howard’s carry-on and the Houston Rockets center admitted it was his. Law enforcement officials detained Howard, but he wasn’t arrested. Howard was allowed to give the handgun to an associate.
The Houston District Attorney’s office declined to press any criminal charges against Howard and he was allowed to board his flight. A person can carry a concealed handgun with the proper license in Texas, and Smith told ESPN.com guns periodically are found at both of Houston’s main airports.
The Rockets issued a statement saying the team was aware of the incident and still gathering information, according to ESPN.com.
Thumbnail photo via Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports Images
