© Google MapsThe 'private property' sign in front of the neighborhood invaded by protesters
A couple pointed guns at protesters who were on private property outside their home Sunday night, as the demonstrators marched past on their way to St. Louis mayor Lyda Krewson's residence to demand her resignation. Police are now investigating the incident to determine
whether the protesters committed trespassing and fourth-degree assault by intimidation.
Mark and Patricia McCloskey stood outside their home on Portland Place,
a private street, as hundreds of protesters,
some of them armed, marched by and chanted. The McCloskeys had been inside their home when they heard loud activity outside and saw "a large group of subjects forcefully break an iron gate marked with 'No Trespassing' and 'Private Street' signs," St. Louis police said.
"The group began yelling obscenities and threats of harm to both victims," the police said. "When the victims observed multiple subjects who were armed, they then armed themselves and contacted police."
Law experts have noted that
Missouri's Castle Doctrine allows homeowners to use deadly force to defend their private property from intruders.
In an
interview with KSDK, the local NBC affiliate, Mark McCloskey said that he called to the protesters that they were on private property and told them to leave when they first broke through the gate. When they did not, he got his rifle and stood outside, continuing to tell the crowd that they were on private property.
Comment: Sitting outside Bezos' house listening to music is not going to change the lives of those in poor communities, but it sure will make these idiots feel like they're doing something great and important.