DA Jackie Lacey Apologizes After Husband Points Gun At Protesters

LOS ANGELES, CA — A Black Lives Matter protest outside Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey's residence early Monday was punctuated by the appearance of Lacey's husband, who pointed a handgun out the front door and told people to leave his property.

Video shared by protesters on Twitter shows the man, who Lacey later confirmed was her husband David, opening a front door and pointing a handgun, telling protesters, "I will shoot you" and "Get off of my porch."

#BREAKING This morning Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey’s husband pulled a gun out on Black Lives Matter activists who protested his wife in front of their house. @BLMLA pic.twitter.com/wnCFMMvaWV
— Jasmyne Cannick (@Jasmyne) March 2, 2020

Officers were sent to the 17900 block of Mayerling Street at 5:45 a.m., according to the Los Angeles Police Department. No arrests or injuries were immediately reported.

"This morning Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey's husband pulled a gun out on Black Lives Matter activists who protested his wife in front of their house," activist Jasmyne Cannick said in a tweet.

"For clarity for folks outside of Los Angeles who don't know the history, @BLMLA (Black Lives Matter Los Angeles) has been trying to meet with their elected District Attorney for years. She hasn't met with the Black community since 2016," Cannick tweeted.

RELATED: Los Angeles County DA Race: George Gascon Challenges Jackie Lacey

Jackie Lacey, responding at an emotional late-morning news conference, said her husband acted out of fear and is "profoundly sorry" for his actions. But she said she has been repeatedly threatened and harassed at public appearances while serving as district attorney, and she believes Black Lives Matter is more interested in trying to embarrass her than have a productive conversation about issues.

"Up until now, I have not really wanted to share with you what it's been like, but I think it's time, because there's a bigger purpose here," Lacey said. "As district attorney of L.A. County, I have received threats, some of them death threats. I have been followed, photographed while with my family, confronted at an art museum, confronted at fundraisers and even at endorsement interviews I've had people crash them and videotape me. And all of this is because I chose to do my job. I'm a human being. I'm a public servant."

"Believe it or not, the Laceys are private people," she said. "We expect people (to) exercise their First Amendment rights, but our home is our sanctuary, and I do not believe it is fair or right for protesters to show up at the homes of people who dedicate their lives to public service."

Lacey said her husband's actions Monday morning were "in fear," and he "wanted me to say to the protesters, the person that he showed the gun to, that he was sorry, he's profoundly sorry, that he meant no one any harm. ... We really didn't know what was about to happen. I too am sorry if anybody was harmed. It's never my intent to harm any protesters. I just want to live in peace and do my job."

According to CBS2, the early morning protest -- which included demonstrators in the driveway with signs, bullhorns and chairs -- called for Lacey to come outside to have a community meeting with them.

Lacey, the county's first black and first woman district attorney, is in a tight race for reelection in Tuesday's primary. Her main opponent is former San Francisco DA George Gascón, who has accused Lacey of locking up too many people of color and people with mental illnesses, while declining to prosecute police officers involved in shootings.

City News Service contributed to this report.

See also: LA Times Endorses George Gascon In Blow To DA Jackie Lacey, County Democrats Spurn DA Jackie Lacey In Favor Of George Gascon