A local teen delivering for Uber Eats to the Augusta Municipal Building was arrested Friday after trying to get through security with a loaded handgun in his waistband, authorities said.
Gabriel Morrell McBride Jr., 19, of Wrens, was charged with carrying a deadly weapon into unauthorized places, a misdemeanor. Authorities said the firearm was a full-size PSA Dagger 9mm pistol, fully loaded with extended, high-capacity 30-round magazine.
Marshals also found McBride carrying a small amount of marijuana, an amount too small for a criminal charge. But his gun and drugs were seized, and he was taken to the Charles B. Webster Detention Center, where he remained Sunday, unable to meet requirements for a $6,800 bond. He also has pending drug-related charges in another county, authorities said.
Richmond County Marshal Ramone Lamkin said it appears the teen did not intend any harm at the Augusta-Richmond County Municipal Building, where signs clearly warn people that weapons and drugs are not permitted. “It appears he just made a mistake,” Marshal Lamkin said Sunday.
With the Uber Eats order in hand, McBride entered the screening checkpoint of the government offices at 535 Telfair St. around 12:57 p.m. Friday. The machine detected something in his waistband as he walked through the metal detector, and the extended magazine was protruding through his shirt, authorities said.
Capt. Steve Douglas, with the Marshal’s Office, said they made the discovery and the investigation was then turned over to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office. The gun was seized as evidence and did not come back as stolen.
“There was no indication of any type of malice,” Capt. Douglas said. “He was cooperative. He didn’t put up a fight. I think it was 19-year-old kid that did something really dumb. That is just my opinion.”
This is the first arrest of someone trying to bring a gun into the municipal building in years, Capt. Douglas said. But it’s far from the first person to walk into the Telfair Street location with a weapon. Most talk to the marshals and they are allowed to take their gun back to their car as long as they are lawfully carrying it.
In McBride’s case, he went through the screening and did not declare his weapon or ask questions. That is an arrestable offense, authorities said.
