Erica Banks, the rapper and reality TV star best known for her viral hit “Buss It” and appearances on Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, was arrested at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Wednesday (August 6) after TSA agents discovered a loaded, stolen gun in her carry-on bag.
Banks, whose legal name is Erica Scharmane Breaux, was attempting to board a Delta flight to Houston when her black Louis Vuitton bag was flagged during X-ray screening at the T-Lower North Checkpoint. Inside, officers found a Smith & Wesson M&P .380 pistol loaded with six rounds in the magazine and no rounds in the chamber. The gun, which was not in a holster, was later confirmed to have been reported stolen in Greenville, South Carolina, back in 2018.
When confronted by authorities, Banks told police she didn’t know the firearm was in her bag and claimed it belonged to her “security,” though she could not provide a name or any additional information to verify the claim. She was arrested on the spot and transported to Clayton County Jail, where she was later released.
Police confirmed she was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the arrest, and no injuries or other incidents were reported. She now faces two criminal charges: theft by receiving stolen property, which is a felony in the state of Georgia, and a weapon law violation for possessing a firearm at an airport checkpoint.
Banks gained national attention in 2020 when her breakout single “Buss It” exploded on social media, launching her into the spotlight as a rising star in hip-hop. In 2023, she joined Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta during its 11th season, where her music career and personal life were chronicled as part of the show’s ongoing storyline. The series, which airs on MTV via Paramount, returned for its 13th season on July 8. Given the timing of the arrest, fans are now speculating whether the incident will be featured in the show’s next season, although no announcements have been made.
At this time, Banks has not publicly addressed her arrest or the charges against her. Her legal case will proceed through the Clayton County court system, and it remains to be seen what effect, if any, this development will have on her career or television appearances. With the legal process just beginning, the spotlight on Banks is likely to intensify in the coming weeks as more details emerge.
Source: 11 Alive
