Story perspectives

TSA Finds Five Cannonballs; Juvenile Stole from Fort Morgan

8/1/2026

Summary

Story summary

On July 18, 2026, TSA officers found five War-era cannonballs in a checked bag at Gulf Shores Airport.
Officer Justin Dupree thought the items were a medicine ball, warned they might be explosives, and called explosives specialists.
Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and police traced paint to Fort Morgan, confirmed cannonballs were inert, identified a juvenile who stole them from the fort’s storage, placed them in his grandmother’s bag, and noted director declined charges.

History

Historical Context

After the November 10 1972 Southern Airways Flight 49 hijacking, the FAA ordered all airlines to screen passengers and carry-on bags by January 5 1973, establishing the Airport Security Program. The 2001 Aviation and Transportation Security Act later created the TSA, which now staffs checkpoints nationwide. Today, TSA officer Justin Dupree at Gulf Shores Airport used those protocols to seize five 19th-century cannonballs hidden in a juvenile’s luggage.

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Story summary

On July 18, 2026, TSA officers found five War-era cannonballs in a checked bag at Gulf Shores Airport.
Officer Justin Dupree thought the items were a medicine ball, warned they might be explosives, and called explosives specialists.
Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and police traced paint to Fort Morgan, confirmed cannonballs were inert, identified a juvenile who stole them from the fort’s storage, placed them in his grandmother’s bag, and noted director declined charges.

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