St. Louis lawyer at the centre of a race row after pointing AR-15 at BLM protesters claims most of the aggressors were Caucasian and insists he thought ‘death was coming through his gate’

A Missouri lawyer seen with his wife brandishing guns at Black Lives Matter protesters outside their home last weekend has claimed that most of the aggressors were not people of color and he didn't imagine that the incident would become a 'race issue'. 

He also insisted that he 'thought what was coming through [his] gate was death', during an interview with Good Morning Britain on Thursday morning. 

Mark McCloskey, 63, and his wife Patricia, 61, were filmed on Sunday evening drawing a AR-15 and handgun on protesters outside their $1.5million mansion in to a well-to-do St. Louis neighborhood. 

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Mark McCloskey appeared alongside his attorney Albert Watkins for an interview on Good Morning Britain on Thursday morning 

They are heard shouting at the protesters to leave their neighborhood and have claimed that demonstrators broke down a gate into the private community. 

Protesters were en route to Mayor Lyda Krewson's home to demand her resignation after she released the names and addresses of residents who had suggested defunding the police department.

Appearing on Good Morning Britain alongside his attorney Albert Watkins, McCloskey said he was surprised that the incident had 'turned into a race issue'. 

He claimed: 'There was no thought whatsoever in my head at the time that I grabbed my rifle what the race or nationality or religious background or anything of the people coming through that gate.' 

His lawyer added: 'And interestingly, the people who were the aggressors here were not people of color.' 

McCloskey continued: 'The vast majority of the people were Caucasians, at least that's what I could tell. 

'How they can turn this into a race baiting situation, which is what it is, is complete nonsense because race had absolutely nothing to do with it, it never entered my mind.' 

Amid accusations that the couple had broken the law by brandishing guns on peaceful protesters, McCloskey insisted that the demonstrators had broken down a gate to enter private property and he had feared for his life. 

'What I was facing was an angry group of people that were, the best that I could tell, about to kill me and burn my house, and there has been significant precedent for that in the city of St. Louis.

'Sufficient that what I thought was coming through that gate was my death, and I took the appropriate action.' 

McCloskey, who works as a personal injury lawyer, also maintained his stance of being a civil rights advocate and added that he had represented 'people in civil rights cases against police excessive force.'

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Armed homeowners, Patty and Mark McCloskey, stand in front their house along Portland Place and confront protesters marching to St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson's house on Sunday

'I represent a young black man right now who is sitting in prison as a result of excessive police violence against him,' he said.  

Also during the interview, McCloskey said that he announced it was private property before grabbing his rifle. He claims that a protester pulled out pistol magazines and told him: 'You're next.' 

People at the protest have claimed that it was peaceful and no one had been carrying weapons.  

The lawyer has previously shared pictures of the destroyed gate which he said was all down to the work of the protesters Sunday night.

He dismissed claims that the gate was already broken as 'nonsense'. 

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The married couple came out of their house armed on Sunday to prevent protesters from walking onto their property after they claim they broke their way into a gated community. Police said not charges are being brought

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About 300 protesters had gone through a gate into this closed-off community and were marching in front of the McCloskey home, which is pictured center. The family said they were having dinner outside when the demonstrators arrived 

Despite Mark's claims, video footage from the protest shows the demonstrators walking through the gate, which was completely intact and open, when they are immediately shouted at by an armed McCloskey to 'get the hell out of my neighborhood'.

'This is private property, get out,' the lawyer is heard saying, as the person recording the video points out his gun.

A man can be heard telling McCloskey to 'calm down' while another is heard shouting 'this is a public street a**hole'. 

'Then call the cops,' another person shouts.

McCloskey continuously repeats 'private property, get out'. 

Video of the McCloskeys went viral Sunday night after they were seen aiming the guns at demonstrators who walked by their palatial property in the wealthy Forest Park area at around 6pm on Sunday.

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Mark McCloskey could be seen carrying a firearm as protesters entered his neighborhood

At one point, the pair seemed to be unknowingly pointing their weapons at one another other while trying to keep protesters away from their home - dubbed the Niemann Mansion.

The pair are both personal injury lawyers and run McCloskey Law Center from inside their extravagant home. The company's website was taken offline on Monday afternoon.

Police said Monday that people in the crowd yelled threats at the couple and that the McCloskeys would not be charged.

They added that they are still investigating but labeled it a case of trespassing and assault by intimidation against the couple by protesters in the racially diverse crowd.

Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner issued a statement later Monday: 'I am alarmed at the events that occurred over the weekend, where peaceful protesters were met by guns and a violent assault.

'We must protect the right to peacefully protest, and any attempt to chill it through intimidation or threat of deadly force will not be tolerated.'

On Monday morning, President Donald Trump retweeted footage of the couple without comment.

Demonstrators chanted 'Let's Go' as the couple stood their ground at their front door, patrolling back and forth.

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One video showed Patricia McCloskey coming on to her front lawn closer to protesters

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A livestream shows protesters walking through the gate to the path in front on the McCloskey home on Portland Place. The video points out Mark McCloskey holding a gun

One video posted to Twitter of the demonstration shows the woman holding her gun at a protester who is wearing a t-shirt that reads, 'Hands up, don't shoot'.

The individual appeared to be trying to get people to move away from the house at the time.

Patricia McCloskey is seen moving closer to the protesters speaking to them as some stand and argue back.

Other demonstrators are heard shouting at everyone to 'Go' as the woman continues waving her handgun at them from her front lawn and Mark McCloskey watched from the front door with his rifle.

St. Louis police confirmed they were called to Portland Place at around 7.20pm on Sunday night for an incident involving trespassing and assault 4th intimidation after the McCloskeys issued a 'call for help'.

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Husband and wife, Mark and Patricia McCloskey are both personal injury lawyers

'The victims stated they were on their property when they heard a loud commotion coming from the street. When the victims went to investigate the commotion, they observed a large group of subjects forcefully break an iron gate marked with 'No Trespassing' and 'Private Street' signs,' police said.

'Once through the gate, the victims advised the group that they were on a private street and trespassing and told them to leave. The group began yelling obscenities and threats of harm to both victims.

'When the victims observed multiple subjects who were armed, they then armed themselves and contacted police. The investigation is ongoing.'