On June 28, 2020, Mark and Patricia McCloskey, a couple of personal injury lawyers, gained notoriety after videos of them brandishing firearms at Black Lives Matter protesters outside their home in St. Louis, Missouri, went viral. The incident sparked controversy and raised questions about the legality of the couple's actions.
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Mark and Patricia McCloskey were charged with unlawful use of a weapon
On June 28, 2020, Mark and Patricia McCloskey, a couple of personal injury lawyers, gained notoriety after videos of them waving and pointing guns at Black Lives Matter demonstrators from their St. Louis mansion went viral. The protesters were marching through the private neighbourhood, which the McCloskeys co-owned, to demonstrate against St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson. Krewson had publicly read the names and addresses of locals who had written to demand defunding of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
The couple claimed that the protesters "smashed through the historic wrought iron gates of Portland Place, destroying them, rushed towards my home...put us in fear for our lives", and that they were armed with guns. However, there was no evidence that the protesters had weapons, and the videos and photographs of the incident show that the protesters remained on the sidewalks and in the roadway.
On July 20, 2020, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner filed charges against Mark and Patricia McCloskey for unlawful use of a weapon, a class E felony which can carry a sentence of up to four years in prison and a fine of $10,000. The complaint stated that the couple had displayed their semi-automatic weapons "readily capable of lethal use, in an angry or threatening manner". The decision drew national attention and criticism from Republican politicians, including then-President Donald Trump, who commented that the McCloskeys were going to be "beat up badly, if they were lucky".
The McCloskeys initially denied wrongdoing and claimed they were acting in self-defence. However, they later pleaded guilty to separate misdemeanour charges stemming from the incident. Mark McCloskey pleaded guilty to a charge of misdemeanour fourth-degree assault and was ordered to pay a $750 fine, while Patricia McCloskey pleaded guilty to misdemeanour harassment and was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine. They were also ordered to surrender their guns as part of their guilty pleas.
Despite their guilty pleas, the McCloskeys were pardoned by Missouri Governor Mike Parson on August 3, 2021. However, they continued to face legal repercussions, as the Missouri Bar Association disciplinary council requested the state Supreme Court to suspend their law licenses. In February 2022, the Missouri Supreme Court suspended the McCloskeys' law licenses indefinitely but stayed the suspension and imposed a one-year probation period.
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The couple pleaded guilty to misdemeanour charges
On June 28, 2020, Mark and Patricia McCloskey, personal injury lawyers, gained national attention after they brandished firearms at Black Lives Matter protesters who were marching through their private neighbourhood. The incident sparked controversy and the couple were charged with unlawful use of a weapon, a class E felony.
On June 17, 2021, the McCloskeys pleaded guilty to separate misdemeanour charges stemming from the incident. Mark McCloskey pleaded guilty to a charge of fourth-degree assault and was ordered to pay a $750 fine. Patricia McCloskey pleaded guilty to second-degree misdemeanour harassment and was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine. They were also ordered to surrender their guns as part of their guilty pleas. The couple's law licences were suspended indefinitely in February 2022, but the suspension was stayed while they served one year of probation.
Mark McCloskey later reflected on the incident, stating that "the prosecutor dropped every charge except for alleging that I purposely placed other people in imminent risk of physical injury; right, and I sure as heck did. That's what the guns were there for and I'd do it again any time the mob approaches me, I'll do what I can to place them in imminent threat of physical injury because that's what kept them from destroying my house and my family."
The couple's guilty plea to misdemeanour charges did not mark the end of their legal troubles, as they continued to face scrutiny from the Missouri Bar Association disciplinary council and the Supreme Court of Missouri.
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They were pardoned by Missouri Governor Mike Parson
On June 28, 2020, Mark and Patricia McCloskey, both personal injury lawyers, gained national attention after they brandished firearms at Black Lives Matter protesters marching through their private neighbourhood. The incident sparked controversy, and the McCloskeys were charged with unlawful use of a weapon, a class E felony.
In June 2021, the McCloskeys pleaded guilty to misdemeanour offences: Mark for fourth-degree assault, and Patricia for harassment. They were fined a combined $3,000 and ordered to surrender their guns.
On August 3, 2021, Missouri Governor Mike Parson pardoned the McCloskeys. Parson had previously stated that he would ''certainly'' pardon the couple if they were convicted. The pardons were granted just weeks after the McCloskeys' guilty plea.
Despite the pardons, the McCloskeys' law licenses were suspended indefinitely by the Missouri Supreme Court in February 2022. However, the suspension was stayed, and they were instead placed on one year of probation.
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The McCloskeys' law licenses were suspended
The McCloskeys, a couple based in St. Louis, Missouri, gained notoriety in 2020 when they pointed guns at Black Lives Matter protesters marching through their private neighbourhood. The incident sparked controversy and led to legal repercussions for the couple, including the suspension of their law licenses.
On 28 June 2020, Mark and Patricia McCloskey, both personal injury lawyers, confronted a group of Black Lives Matter protesters who were marching through their private neighbourhood towards the home of St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson. The protesters were demanding Krewson's resignation after she publicly read the names and addresses of locals who had called for defunding the police.
The McCloskeys stood outside their front door, brandishing a semi-automatic AR-15 rifle and a handgun, respectively. They shouted "private property" and "get out" at the protesters, who were only several yards away. The encounter was captured on video and quickly went viral, sparking intense debate about the rights of protesters and the limits of self-defence.
While the McCloskeys claimed that they feared for their lives and were acting in self-defence, prosecutors argued that they had unlawfully used weapons and committed other misdemeanour offences. The couple initially faced felony charges but eventually pleaded guilty to reduced charges. Mark McCloskey was charged with fourth-degree assault and fined $750, while Patricia McCloskey was charged with harassment and fined $2,000. They were also required to surrender their guns, which were later destroyed.
The case attracted national attention and sparked a debate about the right to bear arms and the limits of self-defence. Despite the guilty pleas, Missouri Governor Mike Parson pardoned the McCloskeys in August 2021. However, this did not erase their criminal records or undo the consequences imposed by the Missouri Bar Association.
In September 2021, the chief disciplinary counsel of Missouri requested the state Supreme Court to suspend the McCloskeys' law licenses, citing their guilty pleas to misdemeanour charges. The Missouri Supreme Court imposed an indefinite suspension in February 2022 but stayed the suspension, instead placing the couple on probation for one year.
The suspension of the McCloskeys' law licenses reflects the serious nature of their actions and the legal system's response to them. While the couple avoided felony convictions, their encounter with protesters had significant repercussions, including the temporary loss of their professional licences. This outcome underscores the delicate balance between protecting the rights of individuals and upholding public safety.
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The couple were invited to speak at the 2020 Republican National Convention
On 28 June 2020, Mark and Patricia McCloskey, both personal injury lawyers, gained national attention for brandishing firearms at Black Lives Matter protesters who were marching through their private neighbourhood. The incident sparked controversy and led to charges being filed against the couple.
Amid the nationwide protests against racial injustice, the McCloskeys' encounter with BLM demonstrators made headlines. A widely circulated photo showed them pointing guns at a passing crowd of protesters. The couple claimed they were acting in self-defence, while protest leaders maintained that the march was peaceful. The McCloskeys' actions divided opinions, with some criticising their use of firearms and others defending their right to protect their property.
As a result of their newfound fame, the McCloskeys were invited to speak at the 2020 Republican National Convention. In their remarks, delivered via video from their home, they criticised Black Lives Matter protesters and expressed support for the Second Amendment and then-President Donald Trump. Mr McCloskey said, "It seems as if the Democrats no longer view the government's job as protecting honest citizens from criminals, but rather protecting criminals from honest citizens." The couple also presented their side of the story during the convention, portraying themselves as victims of the incident.
The McCloskeys' appearance at the Republican National Convention further politicised the situation and contributed to their celebrity status within the Republican Party. Their case became a rallying point for discussions around gun rights, self-defence, and the role of government in protecting citizens. The incident and its aftermath highlighted the ongoing debates and tensions surrounding protest movements, racial justice, and political ideologies in the United States.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Mark and Patricia McCloskey were charged with unlawful use of a weapon, a class E felony. They pleaded guilty to separate misdemeanour charges and were pardoned by Missouri Governor Mike Parson.
Mark and Patricia McCloskey were ordered to pay fines ($750 and $2,000, respectively) and surrender their guns as part of their guilty pleas. They were also charged with moral turpitude by the Missouri Bar Association disciplinary council and had their law licenses suspended.
Mark and Patricia McCloskey gained notoriety after videos of them waving and pointing guns at Black Lives Matter demonstrators from their property went viral. The protesters were marching through the private neighbourhood of Portland Place in St. Louis, Missouri, to demand the resignation of Mayor Lyda Krewson, who had publicly read out the names and addresses of locals who wanted to defund the police.