Dwight Howard won't face charges after bringing loaded gun to Houston airport
Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard was found to have a loaded pistol in his carry-on bag while at George Bush Intercontinental Airport on Friday.
Transportation Security Administration officials made the discovery at roughly 7 a.m. at Terminal E, finding the Glock 26 9mm at the bottom of his bag.
After being detained by law enforcement, the eight-time All-Star revealed the gun to be his before handing it over.
He was eventually allowed to board a later flight after the Houston District Attorney's office elected not to press any charges.
An incident like this would usually be considered a third-degree felony, but as Tom Benning of The Dallas Morning News points out, a new state law allows for a carrier to avoid being arrested if he or she immediately leaves the area after being made aware of the weapon.
Forgetting a loaded pistol in carry-on luggage is surprisingly commonplace, as nearly 2,220 guns were found in bags by the Transportation Security Administration last year, according to The Dallas Morning News. Three of the top 10 airports with the most "gun catches" were in the Texas area.
The law didn't go into effect until Tuesday, so it appears Howard was let off the hook in this case.