A married couple who hail from St Louis have been indicted this week, after they brandished guns and threatened protestors outside their home.
Personal injury lawyers Mark and Patricia McClosky, aged 63 and 61 respectively, threatened Black Lives Matter protestors who were demonstrating against the police killing of George Floyd on June 28, and marched past their property on their way to the home of St Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson.
Soon after the incident, footage emerged on social media of the couple waving a semiautomatic handgun and an automatic AR-15 assault rifle at the demonstrators, demanding that they stay off their property.
Per a recent report by Fox News, Mark and Patricia McClosky contend that the protesters broke a gate belonging to them, ignored a "No Trespassing" sign, and screamed threats at them.
Kimberly Gardner, the chief prosecutor for the city of St Louis, filed felony charges against them in July. The case has now been brought before a grand jury, which has indicted the couple on two charges: unlawful use of a weapon, and tampering with evidence.
Per BBC News, Gardner said in an official statement that:
"It is illegal to wave weapons in a threatening manner at those participating in non-violent protest, and while we are fortunate this situation did not escalate into deadly force, this type of conduct is unacceptable in St Louis.
"We must protect the right to peacefully protest, and any attempt to chill it through intimidation will not be tolerated."
Gardner also recommended that the husband and wife participate in a "diversion program" designed to reduce unnecessary involvement in court, and take part in community service.
Mark McClosky broke the news personally on his Twitter account, writing to his approximate 7,200 followers:
"So we got indicted today on two charges, displaying and tampering. We have no info on the tampering, no idea with what we are supposed to have tampered. Upside down world! [sic]"
McClosky also made a statement to reporters outside the courthouse on Tuesday, October 6, telling reporters:
"Every single human being that was in front of my house was a criminal trespasser. They broke down our gate. They trespassed on our property. Not a single one of those people is now charged with anything. We’re charged with felonies that could cost us four years of our lives and our law licenses."
However, the couple has been supported by President Donald Trump, who told conservative news website Townhall: "They were going to be beat up badly if they were lucky. If they were lucky. They were going be beat up badly and the house was going to be totally ransacked and probably burned down like they tried to burn down churches."
"And these people were standing there, never used it and they were legal, the weapons, and now I understand somebody local, they want to prosecute these people. It's a disgrace."
Per Fox News, their next court was originally set for October 14, but it is probable that this will change due to the grand jury indictment.
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