Woman Accused Of Bringing Loaded Gun, Brass Knuckles To Allegheny Co. Courthouse

PITTSBURGH (KDKA)- A North Braddock woman is facing charges, accused of bringing a loaded gun and brass knuckles to the Allegheny County Courthouse.

Allegheny County Sheriff's deputies detained 25-year-old Kelly Eppes.

They say she was entering the Family Division court facility around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday. She was holding a purse, which was passed through the x-ray device. That's when security personnel noticed the gun inside the purse.

Security immediately notified sheriff's deputies who took possession of Eppes' purse. Deputies seized a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol and two additional loaded magazines from the purse. The purse also had a pair of brass knuckles inside, which are illegal to carry.

"We don't have any evidence that she came in to harm anybody, but regardless, someone who tried to enter the courthouse with a loaded gun and a set of brass knuckles raises the alert," said Chief Deputy Kevin Kraus, of the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office.

Officials say Eppes was accompanying another woman to the courthouse for a Protection From Abuse matter.

Eppes was charged with possessing a firearm in a court facility and possessing a prohibited offensive weapon.

On her Facebook page, Eppes posted this message: "I have my license to carry and forgot I had it in my purse."

Chief Deputy Kraus says if Eppes would've immediately said she had the weapon when she went into the courthouse, things could have been different.

"A lot of times people will ask where they can store the firearms and we do have facilities, lock boxes, where legal firearm carriers can secure their firearms, but they have to disclose that they have a firearm immediately," he said.

Chief Deputy Kraus says Eppes was not taken into custody at the time of the incident and that she will be charged via summons.

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