Armed couple who pointed gun at Black Lives Matter protesters have weapon seized by police – The Sun
COPS have reportedly seized the assault rifle belonging to the husband-and-wife lawyers who were filmed brandishing guns at Black Lives Matter protesters.
Mark, 63, and Patricia McCloskey, 61, last month turned firearms on protesters massed outside their home in a gated St. Louis community after fearing for their safety.
But last night police reportedly searched their home and confiscated the AR-15 rifle that was seen in the footage which was filmed on June 28.
Mr McCloskey told The Todd Starnes Radio Show: "We complied with the search warrant.
"They took my AR.. I'm absolutely surprised by this."
The handgun held by his wife was not seized and is with their attorney.
The couple have not been charged with any offense.
They made headlines on June 28 when a video went viral showing them waving firearms at protesters who had massed outside their home as they marched toward the mayor's home to demand her resignation.
He could be heard yelling while holding a long-barreled gun. His wife stood next to him with a handgun.
'NOTHING TO DO WITH RACE'
McCloskey has defended his and his wife’s actions saying that the confrontation with protesters "had nothing to do with race".
Speaking on Tucker Carlson Tonight, McCloskey explained how the couple felt their lives were in danger once they saw the sea of protesters had broken into their gated community.
He said: "My wife and I were preparing to have dinner, maybe 70 feet from the gate."
As the crowd moved closer toward their home, he said he had a sudden realization that he and his wife could fall victim to the violence and rioting that has taken place in parts of the city in recent weeks.
He added: "By the time we looked up and we saw the marchers coming down Kings Highway and getting loud, we looked over the gate and there’s no police there,."
“Our private security wasn’t there. Nobody’s there.”
McCloskey recalled witnessing a flood of angry people coming in.
"They are angry, they are screaming, they’ve got spittle coming out of their mouths they’re coming toward the house,” he said.
“I turned to my wife and I said, ‘Oh my God, we’re absolutely alone. There is nobody here to protect us.’”
He thought the he and his wife would be “overrun in a second,” when he saw the mob coming through the gate with their “rage and their anger.”
“By the time I saw out there with my rifle, the people were 20 or 30 feet from my wall… I was literally afraid that within seconds they would surmount the wall and come into my house, kill us.”
“Burn the house down and everything that I had worked for and struggled for the last 32 years,” added McCloskey.
On Tuesday, Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner released a statement announcing that officials are investigating the incident.
“I am alarmed at the events that occurred over the weekend, where peaceful protesters were met by guns at a violent assault,” Gardner said.
She added: “My office is currently working with the public to investigate these event.”
Gardner then vowed to seek justice against people breaking the law.
“Make no mistake: we will not tolerate the use of force against those exercising their First Amendment rights, and will use the full power of Missouri law to hold people accountable.”
McCloskey said he was offended by insinuation that his effort to protect his family was racially motivated.
He said his 30-year career as a lawyer was largely focused on helping those “that need a voice.”
“I don’t understand. Here’s the interesting thing, I spend my career defending people that are defenseless… This is what I do for a living,” he said.
“I help people that are down or that need a hand and people that need a voice. To call us racist is ridiculous and it had nothing to do with race.”
“I wasn’t worried what the race was (of) the mob that came through my gate, I was worried that I was going to be killed. I didn’t care what race they were,” emphasized McCloskey.
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