St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner is contemplating whether a pair of married lawyers broke any laws on Sunday when they aimed firearms at nonviolent protesters who were walking past the couple's Central West End mansion en route to a protest at the nearby house of Mayor Lyda Krewson.
In multiple videos, including one that had more than 13 million views by Monday morning, Mark and Patricia McCloskey are seen aiming their weapons at the protestors. Mark McCloskey is shown holding an assault-style rifle, while Patricia is seen holding a semiautomatic pistol. It is unclear if either gun is loaded.
A couple has come out of their house and is pointing guns at protesters in their neighborhood #StLouis #lydakrewson pic.twitter.com/ZJ8a553PAU
— Daniel Shular (@xshularx) June 29, 2020
Gardner issued a statement late Monday morning, stating that she was "alarmed at the events that occurred over the weekend, where peaceful protesters were met by guns and a violent assault." She added that her office is "currently working with the public and police to investigate these events."
Gardner concluded her statement with these words: "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."
The protestors on Sunday were headed to Krewson's house to demand the first-term mayor's resignation for releasing the names and addresses of people who had called for defunding the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
