Man Arrested for Bringing Loaded Handgun into Bronx Courtroom

A man with 18 prior arrests entered a Bronx courtroom on September 21 with a loaded handgun concealed in his underwear. Jamal Frett, 26, allegedly brought a black Ruger pistol with five rounds into the Bronx County Hall of Justice around 11:10 a.m. According to a criminal complaint, Frett acted disorderly in Justice Guy Mitchell’s courtroom, prompting a court officer to intervene. As he was being escorted out, Frett threatened officers, stating, "don’t f–king touch me, come see me outside you want some," while resisting arrest. Officers later discovered the handgun during the arrest. Frett faces multiple charges, including criminal possession of a weapon, and has been remanded. The Bronx District Attorney’s Office referred questions about court security to the state Office of Court Administration (OCA), which is conducting an internal review. OCA spokesperson Al Baker confirmed that security footage showed Frett passed through metal detectors and was patted down after setting off a magnetometer, but no weapon was found at that time. Frett, a parolee released in March, has a history of criminal activity, including a pending case related to an incident in April where he allegedly slashed a woman. It is unclear whether he has legal representation.