A routine security screening at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse turned serious today when officers discovered a concealed gun in a woman's bag. The incident happened during business hours, and authorities reported no injuries.
Security checkpoint intercepted concealed firearm
According to WCNC, court security staff spotted the firearm on an X‑ray monitor during routine bag screening. Deputies quickly seized the bag, detained the woman on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon, and transported her to the county detention center. The discovery underscored that the courthouse screening equipment and procedures are actively enforced, not just for show.
Courthouse rules and charges
Visitors to the Mecklenburg County Courthouse are required to pass through a magnetometer, and all bags must be scanned by an X‑ray machine before entry, according to the North Carolina Judicial Branch. State law also bans weapons in buildings that house courts. Under G.S. 14‑269.4, it is unlawful to possess a deadly weapon in a courthouse, and that statute is used to prosecute similar cases. Prosecutors will decide whether to file formal charges, after which the case will move through Mecklenburg County's criminal courts.
What officials say and what to expect
Deputies and court security regularly remind visitors to double‑check their bags and follow screening rules, and past incidents show why. A comparable case, in which deputies reported they found a handgun tucked inside a purse during a courthouse screening on Jan. 29, 2026, also led to an arrest. In the July 2024 incident, the woman faces potential weapons charges and is expected to be processed through the county's criminal court system, just like other defendants accused of bringing firearms into the courthouse.
