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DA Jackie Lacey's Husband Charged For Pointing Gun At Protesters
L.A. County DA Jackie Lacey. (Screenshot from LA County DA's Office video)
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When District Attorney Jackie Lacey's husband pulled a gun on protesters who showed up on their doorstep before 6 a.m. on March 2, it was because he feared for their lives, she said. Black Lives Matter protesters had shown up outside their home before, and a week earlier, Lacey said, she had received a death threat.
The state isn't offering much in the way of sympathy. The attorney general's office has reportedly filed misdemeanor charges against David Lacey, three counts each of assault with a firearm against Justin Andrew Marks, Dahlia Ferlito, and Melina Rachel Abdullah — the last person being the co-founder of BLM-LA. Politico posted the court document online.
The incident was caught on video: David Lacey is clearly seen in his doorway, handgun pointed at whoever's on his porch. Someone says "Good morning" and this exchange occurred:
Lacey: "Get off of my porch."
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Protester: "Are you going to shoot me?"
Lacey: "I will shoot you."
I’m front of DA Jackie Lacey’s house for that community meeting she promised with the @BLMLA crew. Rang her bell to invite her.
— Melina Abdullah (@DocMellyMel) March 2, 2020
Her husband pulled a gun, cocked it, pointed it at my chest and said “I’ll shoot you. I don’t care who you are.” @WP4BL @RealJusticePAC @shaunking pic.twitter.com/WtazUWSJIC
This was a day before the primary election, and the district attorney quickly (and tearfully) apologized on behalf of her husband.
At the time, Abdullah said she filed no police report, but she was unapologetic about the encounter. She said Lacey had been avoiding a public meeting with protesters, who have long complained that the DA has consistently declined to prosecute police officers for shooting civilians while on duty. She argued that if you're a public official, not even your home is off limits, and that Lacey had left protesters no other way to meet with her.
David Lacey's attorney, Samuel E. Tyre, said his client's "human instinct is forever and always to protect his wife and his family and to keep them safe from physical harm. We look forward to all relevant facts coming to light."
In a written statement, Tyre also offered this from Jackie Lacey:
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"The events that took place earlier this year have caused my family immense pain. My husband acted in fear for my safety after we were subjected to months of harassment that included a death threat no less than a week earlier. Protesters arrived at my house shortly after 5 am while I was upstairs. My husband felt that we were in danger and acted out of genuine concern for our well being."
We'll update this story as we learn more.
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