Passenger tried to bring semi-automatic on board flight from Winnipeg: RCMP

WINNIPEG – A man whose brother was beaten and killed earlier this month has been charged with trying to bring a semi-automatic handgun onboard a flight from Winnipeg to Toronto.

Mohammad Peyawary, a 35-year-old from Toronto, faces several charges including unlawful transport of an unsecured restricted firearm and carrying a concealed weapon.

Police said the gun was found inside a carry-on garment bag as a man passed through security on Monday at the James Armstrong Richardson International Airport.

RCMP spokeswoman Tara Seel says the gun was not loaded, the passenger was not carrying any ammunition and there was no risk to the public.

Seel said Peyawary is the brother of Mustafa Peyawary, a 29-year-old who was found dead inside a Winnipeg apartment Aug. 13.

Mustafa Peyawary had been beaten over an extended period of time and suffered massive blunt force trauma, according to Winnipeg police — two men were later charged with first-degree murder.

Seel said any potential motive behind the airport incident was not immediately clear.

“The investigation is definitely ongoing and we have brought in our experts from the (RCMP) national weapons enforcement support team,” Seel said.

Peyawary remains in police custody.

The two men charged in his brother’s killing are Damir Kulic, 27, of Vancouver and Ahamed Althaaf Ismail, 29, of Edmonton.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version said the gun was found on Tuesday