An Atlanta man was sentenced to a decade in federal prison Wednesday after his gun went off inside Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in 2021. That man was a felon and was not legally allowed to own a firearm, officials said.
Kenny Wells Jr. was accused of violating multiple security requirements under U.S. code, but accepting a plea deal in January meant that some of those charges were dismissed. He pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a firearm as a felon and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Wells, 44, was given credit for time he served in the Clayton County jail since his arrest. The court recommended that he serve his remaining time at the United States Penitentiary in Atlanta to be “close to his family,” records show.
“Wells is a multi-convicted felon who should not have been in possession of a firearm,” U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia Ryan K. Buchanan said in a statement. “His behavior, particularly occurring at the world’s busiest airport, was especially dangerous. Fortunately, no one was injured when Wells discharged his firearm. He has now been held accountable for the consequences of his conduct.”
Wells’ gun discharged on Nov. 20, 2021, when he lunged to grab it from his bag as his luggage was being searched by TSA agents at the airport security checkpoint, Atlanta police previously said. The search occurred after an X-ray detected a prohibited item. He was preparing for a flight to New Orleans.
Wells then took off with the weapon, tossing it in a nearby trash can, as the crowded airport turned chaotic, according to police. Unfounded rumors of an active shooter swirled on social media.
Passengers were evacuated, flights were delayed, and three people were injured during the turmoil, according to officials.
“This incident underscores the importance of checking personal belongings for dangerous items before leaving for the airport. Firearms, particularly loaded firearms, introduce an unnecessary risk at checkpoints, have no place in the passenger cabin of an airplane, and represent a very costly mistake for the passengers who attempt to board a flight with them,” TSA said in a statement the day of the discharge.
Wells turned himself in 10 days later at the Clayton County Jail.
The incident prompted Hartsfield-Jackson officials to conduct a forensic analysis to review elements of their Nov. 20 response, as well as their response plan.
Wells was indicted in U.S. District Court in December 2021 on three charges, including the weapon charge. The others, having a concealed weapon when trying to board an aircraft and evading airport security procedures, were dismissed as a result of his negotiated plea.
“Kenny Wells is a very violent individual who displays a total lack of concern for the lives of others. This sentence represents the seriousness of his crime,” said Alicia Jones, a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “This sentence also ensures that Wells will not be able to hurt or terrorize anyone else for a very long time.”
Court records outline a long criminal history for Wells, dating to a 1997 shoplifting arrest out of Fulton County. He has been charged with various crimes since then, including theft by taking, burglary, forgery and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Multiple charges of possessing a gun as a felon followed.
According to the Georgia Department of Corrections, Wells spent two years in prison starting in 2015 after being convicted on his latest gun charge as a repeat offender. He was released in October 2017. The offense was related to crimes of impersonating an officer and multiple traffic violations, among others.
Before that, he spent three months in prison in 2000 after a conviction out of Fulton on another gun possession charge. That followed an earlier felony conviction on two counts of theft by taking.
His 10-year sentence in the airport incident was the maximum possible and the recommendation of the government, records show. Wells’ counsel issued no objections in court.
“The egregious actions of Kenny Wells, a convicted felon, are disturbing. He endangered the lives of multiple innocent travelers and airport personnel,” Atlanta police Chief Darin Schierbaum said. “The conviction of Kenny Wells proves the effectiveness of our law enforcement partnerships, the dedication of the members of the various agencies that protect the world’s busiest airport, and our commitment to bringing criminals and repeat offenders to justice.”
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