Atlanta bishop and well known gospel singer Pastor William Henry Murphy III was last Wednesday afternoon arrested for allegedly attempting to board an aircraft with a loaded gun.
Atlanta’s WSB-TV reports there was a 9 mm hand gun loaded with 10 rounds in Murphy’s carry-on bag when he arrived at the main security check point at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport.
Although Murphy is licensed to carry a gun, as required by law, TSA contacted local authorities and the “Praise Is What I Do” singer was arrested because they say loaded guns are not permitted on aircrafts and passengers must must declare their weapon before taking flight.
The ‘Praise Is What I Do’ crooner Murphy, Pastor of Dream Center Church could face jail time and penalties of up to $7500. Wearing a t-shirt with the words “I heart my church” on it, on Thursday he was charged with possession of a weapon unauthorized in a Clayton County Court with bond set at $2500. The incident comes just days after Murphy was ordained a Bishop.
Murphy reportedly said he forgot the gun was in the bag. He is the forty-seventh person this year accused of carrying a weapon in an unauthorized location.
Passengers attempting to board planes with weapons has increased.
During the month of May TSA Officers confiscated a record 65 guns in carry-on bags at U.S. airports, including 54 that were loaded, the TSA says. Of the firearms that were loaded, 19 had bullets in the chamber.
According to the church’s Facebook page, Murphy had just been consecrated from pastor to bishop on Monday.
