Police raid home of St Louis couple who pointed guns at Black Lives Matter protesters

Police seized the rifle that Mark McCloskey brandished at Black Lives Matter protesters who marched past his property

Police have executed a search warrant at the home of the St Louis couple who pointed guns at Black Lives Matter protesters marching past their property.

The raid on Mark and Patricia McCloskey’s mansion resulted in authorities seizing the rifle that Mr McCloskey was seen brandishing in a video that went viral after the incident in June.

The search took place on Friday night at the property in the Central West End neighbourhood, according to local news stations. KSDK reported on the seizure of the rifle.

On 28 June, protesters marched by the McCloskeys home on a private street on their way to St Louis mayor Lyda Krewson’s house in a nearby gated community.

Demonstrators were calling for the mayor’s resignation after she read out the names and addresses of people that wrote to her demanding that she defund the police force, during a livestreamed briefing.

According to the police report, the McCloskeys claimed to have seen a “large group of subjects forcefully break an iron gate marked with ‘No Trespassing’ and ‘Private Street’ signs”.

The couple claimed that the group yelled obscenities and threats of harm and that they “observed multiple subjects who were armed” and so armed themselves.

Missouri has a number of laws that may protect the McCloskeys from any criminal charges. No charges have been filed to date.

The state has Open Carry, Stand Your Ground, and Castle Doctrine legislation, that allow you to carry a weapon, protect yourself if you feel threatened, and defend your home.

However St Louis University law professor John Ammann told KMOV that under those protections you are not allowed to aim a gun unless there is a specific threat that someone is approaching or attempting to enter the home. Video footage showed that Mrs McCloskey appeared to be pointing a gun indiscriminately, with her finger on the trigger, rather than at a specific threat.

City prosecutor Kim Gardner is investigating the incident. She said at the time: “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.”