Folding rifle found in traveler’s backpack at Cedar Rapids airport, police say

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Cedar Rapids man was cited Monday after a collapsible rifle was found in his carry-on bag at a security checkpoint at the airport in Cedar Rapids, police said.

A Transportation Security Administration officer at The Eastern Iowa Airport who was checking bags at an X-ray machine noticed a black carry-on bag that appeared to contain a loaded magazine and a folding rifle, according to airport police. He alerted his supervisor.

A check of the backpack revealed a KEL TEC sub-2000 folding rifle and a 33-round magazine filled with 25 rounds of ammunition, according to the police report. There were no rounds in the weapon's chamber, police said.

Police said the backpack belonged to Scott Pennebaker, 58, who was traveling to Pittsburgh.

Pennebaker told officers he had gone shooting and forgot the firearm and ammunition were in the backpack, according to police.

Pennebaker faces a charge of violating screening checkpoint restrictions.

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