Florida sheriff’s deputies prevented a possible mass shooting after arresting an armed man just outside a busy airport, authorities reported.
Michael Rodrigues, 41, was carrying a fully loaded AR-15 rifle, a machete, and knives in a restricted area of Palm Beach International Airport.
Airport operations staff at Palm Beach International Airport reported a suspicious man in a restricted area, according to deputies.
The individual was identified as Michael Rodrigues and was in a rented car when authorities began investigating his unusual behavior.
“When deputies opened the glove compartment to check the rental agreement, they discovered a fully loaded AR-15 rifle magazine inside,” wrote Teri Barbera, spokesperson for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO).
Deputies continued searching the vehicle and found a fully loaded AR-15 rifle, a machete, and knives, suspecting they may have thwarted the 41-year-old’s violent plan.
Some of the deadly weapons were hidden under a blanket in the car, according to The Miami Herald.
Detectives questioned Rodrigues before arresting him for trespassing in an operational area on airport property, cocaine possession, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He is being held without bail.
The South Florida Sun Sentinel reported that Rodrigues, a resident of Palm Beach Gardens, has a pending felony case, an active domestic violence restraining order, and several other encounters with law enforcement.
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