Atlanta resident sentenced to 10 years in prison following Hartsfield-Jackson gun discharge
A metro Atlanta resident has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for discharging a firearm at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport during the 2021 Thanksgiving holiday season nearly two years ago.
Kenny Wells, 44, was sentenced on Thursday on the charge of possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon.
“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 ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones in a statement. “This sentence also ensures that Wells will not be able to hurt or terrorize anyone else for a very long time.”
On Nov. 20, 2021, Wells discharged a firearm at Hartsfield–Jackson, forcing a lockdown of the airport and the surrounding area for over two hours. Wells was traveling from Atlanta to New Orleans, Louisiana.
At approximately 1:30 p.m., according to U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan, Wells joined a line for TSA screening. When a bag belonging to the now-incarcerated passenger caught the eye of an officer after going through an X-ray portal, it was moved to a side area for closer inspection.
It was at this point that Wells lunged forward toward the officer and reached for a firearm concealed within the bag. He discharged the firearm as he grabbed the weapon and escaped from the area, with authorities being able to identify him after he left his boarding pass at the TSA Checkpoint.
“He endangered the lives of multiple innocent travelers and airport personnel,” said Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum.
“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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