Weapons arrest: Unattended bag at NJ train station leads to startling find

☑️ An unattended bag at Newark Penn Station had a handgun and loaded rifle

☑️ The suspect was on an Amtrak train headed to Virginia

☑️ Police detained the man in Trenton and found more weapons

TRENTON — A passenger was removed from an Amtrak train Friday afternoon after police found him to be carrying several weapons in a bag.

The case began at Newark Penn Station when NJ Transit police were alerted about an unattended bag around 3 p.m. and found a handgun and a loaded rifle inside. The investigation determined that the man who left the bag bought a ticket for an Amtrak train headed to Virginia, according to NJ Transit police.

The train was stopped at the Trenton Transit Center and the man was found to have three handguns and two rifles in his possession, according to police.  The man was taken into custody after a brief struggle. Police using a K9 unit swept search the train and found no additional weapons.

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Charges not disclosed

NJ Transit police did not disclose the identity of the man, the charges against him,  where he is being held or if the firearms he had in Trenton were loaded. The agency says it is leading the investigation into the incident.

Amtrak allows firearms to be taken on trains if they are unloaded and in an approved, locked hard-sided container. The passenger must notify the railroad at least 24 hours in advance. Firearms may not be carried inside the Trenton Transit Center or Newark Penn Station.

The Trenton Transit Center is used by 30,000 NJ Transit rail, light rail and commuter bus passengers plus Amtrak and SEPTA commuters. It is owned and operated by NJ Transit.

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