Morgantown man pleads guilty to possessing unregistered hand grenade

Zachary Velling, a 27-year-old resident of Morgantown, has pleaded guilty in federal court to possessing an unregistered firearm. The charge stems from an incident on November 12, 2024, at Pittsburgh International Airport.

During security screening, Transportation Security Administration representatives identified a suspicious object in Velling's carry-on luggage. Allegheny County Police determined the object to be a MK24 MOD 0, 6 Bang/Flash diversionary hand grenade. Under federal law, the grenade is classified as a firearm and a destructive device. Velling faces a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for January 7, 2027.