A 41-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday at Palm Beach International Airport in Florida, after the police found an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle loaded, as well as several hidden knives inside a rental car recorded in his name.
Airport staff sighted Rodrigues in a suspicious attitude next to a dark color vehicle, shortly after 7:00 local time (11:00 GMT), so they requested assistance from the authorities, according to the Sheriff’s office of Palm Beach County.
Update: Florida Sheriff’s Deputies Possible Mass Shooting Tuesday When They arrested Man Armed to The Teeth With High-Powered Guns Just Outside to Busy Airport, Officials Said.
Michael Rodrigues, 41, was in a Rental Car Packed with an ar-15, AT Several Loaded … pic.twitter.com/bvb1o5casr
– Us Homeland Security News (@defense_civil25) August 6, 2025
The man was identified as Michael Rodrigues and the agents found within his vehicle an ar.15 charger with ammunition, as well as a loaded rifle and several white weapons, under a blanket in the seat.
Rodrigues, who was arrested without offering resistance and is being questioned by the authorities, are charged with the search charges in the airport operational area, possession of cocaine and possession of weapons, being a convict criminal.
The criminal history of the detainee includes a history of aggression, theft with force and theft of vehicles, among other serious crimes committed in recent years.
It is not the first time that fire armament is detected in Florida airports, underlines a report of EFEwhich cites an annual report published by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
According to TSA, in 2024 a total of 6678 firearms were seized at airport control points in the United States, being Florida, with 817 confiscated weapons, one of the states with a greater number of incidents.
The investigation is still ongoing and at the moment no direct threats have been reported against the airport facilities or against passengers. With this arrest, according to the authorities, “a possible mass shooting” was avoided.
