When protestors appeared near the property line of a rich lawyer couple from St. Louis, Missouri, the fearsome couple, Mark and Patricia McCloskey, exited their front door armed to the teeth with an AR-15 and a handgun. Although the pair were armed like secret agents, they unknowingly pointed the barrels of their guns at each other when not paying attention – and now the country is talking about how this couple acted.
Because protestors were marching past the McCloskey mansion in their upscale St. Louis neighborhood – home to a predominantly white population – Mark and Patricia were afraid. As the peaceful protestors passed their property, the McCloskeys were spotted aiming their weapons at the faces of the people. The lawyers were fearful because they didn’t like how people were marching through their wealthy neighborhood, Forest Park, Sunday evening, around 6 pm.
Mark McCloskey stepped out of his home, armed with the AR-15, while also wearing his best pink polo shirt. He wanted to let the protestors know that he did not approve of their march toward the home of Mayor Lyda Krewson to demand her resignation after she released the names and addresses of individuals who suggested defunding the police department. The protestors felt that this invasion of their privacy put them on alert as people like the McCloskeys armed themselves for a potential race war.
The protestors trespassed into the gated community where the McCloskeys live. They’re rich personal injury lawyers and run the McCloskey Law Center.
As protestors peacefully passed the home, the McCloskeys walked back and forth on patrol, preparing their weapons to fire. Demonstrators started a chant of “Let’s Go” as the couple paced uncomfortably back and forth, intimidating the presence of Black Americans in their rich neighborhood.
One image showed Patricia McCloskey aiming her weapon at the face of a protestor who is wearing a shirt that reads, “Hands up, don’t shoot.” This induvial appeared terrified for his life and tried to usher other people away from the gun-toting lawyer.
Nevertheless, 61-year-old Patricia kept approaching the protestors with her handgun ready to fire. And it was the McCloskeys who called the police with their “call for help.”
“The victims stated they were on their property when they heard a loud commotion coming from the street. When the victims went to investigate the commotion, they observed a large group of subjects forcefully break an iron gate marked with ‘No Trespassing’ and ‘Private Street’ signs,” police said. “Once through the gate, the victims advised the group that they were on a private street and trespassing and told them to leave. The group began yelling obscenities and threats of harm to both victims. When the victims observed multiple subjects who were armed, they then armed themselves and contacted police. The investigation is ongoing.”
Mark McCloskey has represented a victim of police brutality. His client was kicked and beaten by police officer David Maas – all of which was captured on disturbing dashboard camera footage. Because of McCloskey’s lawyering, Maas was charged with a count of deprivation of rights under color of law in March 2020.
McCloskey said: “I’m glad that the law enforcement agencies are subject to the same standard as everybody else.”
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