Harris County Jail detention officers discovered a loaded handgun concealed in an inmate’s wheelchair on Tuesday morning. The officers were able to confiscate the weapon after receiving an anonymous tip.
Tyrone Kennedy, a 53-year-old inmate, is now facing a new felony charge. Authorities have found a weapon inside the seat cushion of Kennedy’s personal wheelchair, which he was using when he was arrested on Oct. 23 for a felony parole revocation warrant.
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The recovery of the weapon occurred without any issues while Kennedy was being held in a regular cell within the 1200 Baker Street jail facility.
Kennedy faced murder charges in 1988 and was subsequently convicted. According to TDCJ records, he received a 50-year sentence. The exact date of his parole release remains unclear; however, Harris County records indicate that he initially violated his parole in 2013.
The Harris County District Attorney’s Office is collaborating with investigators to officially file the new charge.
The jail has initiated an internal investigation to evaluate the policies and procedures regarding the incident.