Man reportedly arrested in Times Square station with rifle, ammo

An Ohio man has been arrested after being found with an unloaded semiautomatic rifle, ammunition and a gas mask in a bag, law enforcement officials told News 4 in New York on Friday.

The man was apprehended by officers at the Times Square subway station near the A/C/E line, officials told the NBC affiliate.

NEW: The NYPD has arrested a man from Ohio who had a semi-automatic rifle in a subway station in New York's Times Square near the A/C/E line around 42nd street.

The rifle was unloaded and the man had ammunition and a gas mask in his backpack. Reported w/ @jonathan4ny
— Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) April 16, 2021

MORE: The man allegedly told police he possessed the weapon legally.

Police saw the weapon and immediately questioned the man and took him into custody.

They're trying to determine why he was there. Reported w/ @jonathan4ny
— Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) April 16, 2021

New York Police Department officers, who were performing a station inspection, spotted the man as he took the unloaded weapon out of his bag and put it on the ground.

The officers approached the man, questioned him and took him into custody, News 4 in New York reported.

Investigators have not determined why the man was there, but officers found a loaded magazine clip in his possession, an official told the NBC affiliate.

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The man told officials it was legal for him to have the weapon, News 4 reported.

This is a developing story. Please return to AJC.com throughout the day for updates.

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