INDIANAPOLIS (AP) 鈥 Actor and comedian Mike Epps has apologized to fans after security screeners found a gun in a carry-on bag at Indianapolis International Airport.
Agents from the Transportation Security Administration called airport police Sunday morning after finding a Smith & Wesson .38-caliber pistol loaded with four rounds in Epps鈥 backpack.
Epps, an Indianapolis native who was in town for a comedy show at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, was not arrested, but police took the firearm.
In a a video posted on , Epps told fans he 鈥渉ad a long night鈥 in his hometown and forgot about the firearm. He said he carries a gun for protection.
鈥淪houtout to all my fans out there and wanna apologize if you鈥檙e seeing any negativity about a gun charge at an airport. I had a long night, I had a show in my hometown and I literally forgot that I had my pistol in my bag," Epps said in the video.
"Now if you wanna know why I carry a gun, I carry money all the time, I be having jewelry on, and these dudes is out here robbing people.
"So I wanna make sure I make it clear that I ain鈥檛 out here doing nothing wrong but I keep a gun on me because I gotta protect myself. Sometimes I鈥檓 not with my security. So just wanna let y鈥檃ll know that I鈥檓 still on some positive vibes. And sorry that it happened. All I can tell you is that the world is crazy. Stay strapped.鈥
No charges have been filed against Epps.
Epps has starred in movies including 鈥淭he House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2,鈥 鈥淣ext Friday" and 鈥淔riday After Next.鈥 He appears in the upcoming Marvel movie 鈥淢adame Web鈥 starring Dakota Johnson, and the Apple TV+ series 鈥淟ady in the Lake鈥 starring Natalie Portman.
