St. Louis Couple Regains Rifle After Years-Long Legal Battle Following 2020 Protest Confrontation

A St. Louis couple, who gained notoriety in 2020 for brandishing firearms at Black Lives Matter protesters, has recovered their semiautomatic rifle. The AR-15 was returned to Mark and Patricia McCloskey after a lengthy legal battle that spanned over five years.

Mark McCloskey shared the news on his social media account, accompanied by photos of himself with the gun. He stated that the recovery of the weapon followed multiple lawsuits and appeals. He emphasized that despite facing persecution and threats, they remained steadfast.

In a separate post, Mark McCloskey shared a video of himself retrieving the rifle from a police station. He mentioned that while the gun's monetary value was relatively low, the effort to reclaim it was significant. He also expressed his expectation that his wife's pistol would be returned soon. The AR-15 had been held by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, while the pistol was held by the St. Louis Sheriff's Department.

The incident that led to the seizure of the weapons occurred in June 2020. A video of the McCloskeys confronting Black Lives Matter protesters went viral. The protesters had entered their private street, ignoring a "No Trespassing" sign. The couple, feeling threatened, armed themselves. No one was injured during the confrontation.

Following the incident, the McCloskeys were charged with unlawful use of a weapon. However, the charges were later dismissed. In 2021, they pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges but were subsequently pardoned by the former Missouri Governor. A Missouri appeals court recently confirmed the expungement of their misdemeanor convictions, effectively erasing the incident from their records.