A Florida man has been indicted for allegedly bringing multiple weapons, including assault weapons with large capacity ammunition magazines, a silencer and a booby-trapped rifle on an Amtrak train.
Jeffrey O. Kennerk, aged 34 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was apprehended in January in Trenton, New Jersey.
The probe started after the New Jersey Transit police received notification about an abandoned black-and-white zebra-patterned bag at Newark Penn Station around 3 PM on January 3rd.
As stated in the indictment, during the police inspection of the bag, they discovered a case for a Glock pistol inside which was a Girsan Regard MC handgun accompanied by a full 18-round magazine. Additionally, within this suitcase were located an AR-style magazine pre-loaded with .223 ammunition, a clear plastic pouch containing a shirt along with two containers marked as holding 9mm cartridges, alongside four more boxes filled with .223 caliber rounds. Further into the luggage, another section held a zippered compartment where a pink duffel bag enclosed a black Zastava Arms AK-47 styled firearm; this weapon featured one cartridge already inserted into the firing chamber together with several extra magazines each loaded with ammo.
As they examined the security tapes, officers spotted a male individual dressed in a dark jacket and crimson trousers transporting two bags, with one seemingly featuring a zebra pattern. They later observed him approaching the Amtrak ticket counter.
The individual was subsequently observed getting on board an Amtrak train heading towards Virginia, with the immediate upcoming station being Trenton.
Upon the train’s arrival in Trenton, two law enforcement officers got onboard.
As they neared Kennerk, he reportedly presented them with a legitimate Amtrak ticket; however, it was for another train. According to his statement to the police, he claimed to have taken the incorrect train and was instructed to await the following one, scheduled to arrive in about 60 minutes.
Before that other train arrived, the Trenton police officers were informed about an individual who was sought after for weapon-related issues in Newark.
It was at this moment that the officers spotted Kennerk preparing to get onto another train. They managed to intervene and take him into custody.
When police searched the suitcases Kennerk still had with him, they found multiple weapons, including an AR-15 style rifle that was separated into the lower and upper receiver, multiple caches of ammunition, multiple extended magazines, and multiple handguns.
“While conducting the search of the bag, police allegedly removed a separate rifle that was loaded with .300 AAC Blackout ammunition. While removing that rifle from the suitcase, multiple handkerchiefs were observed wrapped around the trigger guard,” according to police.
When one of the officers attempted to remove one of the handkerchiefs from the firearm, it discharged without the officer engaging the trigger, according to officials. This indicated to police that the gun was allegedly booby-trapped.
Ten “K” baffle cups (used in conjunction with silencers), four silencers, as well as hollow point ammunition in both 9mm and .22 long rifle calibers, were also discovered inside the bag.
Attorney General Platkin stated, “This individual reportedly transported a collection of lethal arms and ammunition across crowded transportation hubs and aboard a passenger train. He supposedly abandoned a bag holding various firearms and ammo—an assault rifle included—in the main hall of Newark Penn Station, posing potential danger to everyone nearby. We can only speculate on the consequences had it not been for the exceptional efforts of law enforcement.”
“The weapons confiscated in this case were unlawful and posed a significant danger to community safety,” stated DCJ Director Theresa L. Hilton.
Kennerk is charged with possessing a weapon for an illegal purpose, having an unlawfully possessed high-capacity ammo magazine, and owning an unregistered silencer, along with several other counts.
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