Season 10 "American Idol" winner and beloved country singer Scotty McCreery was given a citation after carrying a loaded Smith & Wesson 9-millimeter handgun through security of a North Carolina airport on July 13th, as reported by Fox News.
Details of incident
McCreery told authorities that he'd just come from a firing range and taking the gun out of his bag had slipped his mind. He had a valid conceal and carry permit, but was still served a citation for a misdemeanor concealed weapon permit violation, on his way to Nashville, TN from his hometown in North Carolina.
As reported by People, he has held a permit for quite some time after being robbed at gunpoint back in 2014 and said he takes gun safety very seriously. McCreery didn't realize he had left his pistol in his backpack until TSA found it during the security X-ray screening and correctly confiscated it. Continuing to People, McCreery said he's thankful his permit was on him. He was quickly released and is grateful to airport security for being on the job, but says he's been taught a lesson that he won't soon forget.
McCreery's 2014 scare
Back on May 5th, 2014, the singing sensation experienced quite a startle when Mikkail Jamal Shaw and two other men held McCreery and his friends at gunpoint with an assault rifle and pistol.
Shaw was charged with four counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon.
McCreery said soon after the altercation in a Facebook post that it was most certainly a scary night. He was extremely thankful that his friends were okay and that the Raleigh Police Department was investigating the case.
Nearly a year ago, McCreery made an appearance at Shaw's sentencing, where Shaw received 17 years in prison for the home invasion.
A quick rise to stardom
McCreery exploded onto the country music scene straight from his success on "American Idol" and became one of country music's hottest stars. He has album sales approaching 3 million, achieved one gold and three platinum-certified singles, and has a couple top ten hits.
Named by readers of NASH Country Weekly Magazine as "Country Music's Sexiest Man," McCreery has also debuted three consecutive albums at #1 on the Billboard chart.
Last year when appearing at the Grand Ole Opry, he sang his current hit single "Five More Minutes." He has also won CMT, ACM, and BMI awards, and authorized the publishing of his first book, "Go Big or Go Home."
