ST. LOUIS – The lawyer for the McCloskeys, Al Watkins, transferred the couple’s handgun to police in front of his office on Forsyth Boulevard Saturday afternoon.
Al Watkins, the attorney for the couple that aimed guns at Black Lives Matter protesters when they walked into their neighborhood in St. Louis on June 28, 2020, surrenders the pistol that Patricia McCloskey was holding, to St. Louis Police, in Clayton, Missouri on July 11, 2020. The inoperable pistol was taken by police while the AR-15 rifle that Mark McCloskey was holding, was reportedly seized by police on July 10, 2020 at the home. The two have defended their actions by saying they felt their lives were being threatened. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI 
St. Louis Police produce a receipt for Al Watkins, the attorney for the couple that aimed guns at Black Lives Matter protesters when they walked into their neighborhood in St. Louis on June 28, 2020. The pistol that Patricia McCloskey was holding, was surrendered to police in Clayton, Missouri on July 11, 2020. The inoperable pistol was taken by police while the AR-15 rifle that Mark McCloskey was holding, was reportedly seized by police on July 10, 2020 at the home. The two have defended their actions by saying they felt their lives were being threatened. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI 
Al Watkins, the attorney for the couple that aimed guns at Black Lives Matter protesters when they walked into their neighborhood in St. Louis on June 28, 2020, produces the pistol that Patricia McCloskey was holding, before surrendering it to St. Louis Police, during a press conference in Clayton, Missouri on July 11, 2020. The inoperable pistol was taken by police while the AR-15 rifle that Mark McCloskey was holding, was reportedly seized by police on July 10, 2020 at the home. The two have defended their actions by saying they felt their lives were being threatened. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI 
Al Watkins, the attorney for the couple that aimed guns at Black Lives Matter protesters when they walked into their neighborhood in St. Louis on June 28, 2020, points to the tape placed on the pistol that Patricia McCloskey was holding, before surrendering it to St. Louis Police, during a press conference in Clayton, Missouri on July 11, 2020. The inoperable pistol was taken by police while the AR-15 rifle that Mark McCloskey was holding, was reportedly seized by police on July 10, 2020 at the home. The two have defended their actions by saying they felt their lives were being threatened. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI
Authorities wanted the gun in their possession to be sure that it is not operable.
Mark and Patricia McCloskey’s Central West End home was searched Friday. Mark McCloskey’s AR-15 rifle was seized.
The McCloskeys were seen pointing firearms at protesters as they walked past the McCloskeys home the night of June 28. The protesters were on their way to St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson’s home in response to Krewson reading the names and addresses of people calling for the police to be defunded.
After the incident, Watkins took possession of the gun to be used as evidence in court. Watkins said he did this in case charges were to be filed.
“This gun which was not operable and was being handled by Mrs. McCloskey was clearly being handled in a fashion inconsistent with anyone with any sort of gun or weapon training,” Watkins said. “The inoperable nature of this weapon was important given the elements of any potential crimes which may in your wildest imagination arise out of the bad situation which occurred June 28,” Watkins said.
Watkins is no longer representing the McCloskeys. No charges have been filed against them.
