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Officials confirm that a man was arrested in Lubbock Texas after brandishing a semi-automatic rifle in front of a George Floyd protest, and posting to Facebook saying he wanted to “off racists and MAGA people,” according to Breitbart News.
He allegedly shouted, “President Trump must die” and “this is a revolution” as authorities took him into custody.
Emmanuel Quinones, 25, was arrested on Saturday May 30, after he was seen on video showing off a loaded Smith & Wesson .223 semi-automatic rifle in front of protesters.
The suspect reportedly refused to lower his weapon until a Lubbock police officer drew his sidearm.
In the video, a bystander is seen tackling the suspect and helped an officer who appeared to be injured in the arrest.
This just happened in Lubbock at our protest rally! Someone showed up with an automatic weapon. @LubbockPolice came in a helped take him down. #Lubbock #Texas #blm #BlackLivesMatter #rally #maga pic.twitter.com/cy7sfBA4Ty
— Mark Wilson (@themawilson) May 31, 2020
“In the interview, the defendant stated he attended the protest to protect demonstrators from these so-called MAGA (Make America Great Again) instigators, who he planned to shoot on sight,” KCBD reported. “He claimed the police would not have been able to identify these counter-protesters, but that he could have.”
“Instead of respecting citizens’ rights to respectfully voice their feelings, this defendant incited panic, putting everyone present – including those he claimed to support – in danger,” U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox said in a written statement. “We will not tolerate attempts to instill terror or encourage violence at otherwise peaceful protests.”
“Quinones stated he went to the protest on May 30, 2020, to protect protesters from counter-protesters, who he referred to as Trump/MAGA instigators,” investigators said in the criminal complaint.
“Quinones stated that if counter-protesters showed up at the protest, then he would have used his rifle to shoot them and protect the protesters.”
Quinones admitted to posting threats on social media, including one just days before his arrest, when he said he planned to obtain gun parts so that he could “off racists and MAGA people.”
Court records state that Quinones is charged with Interstate Threatening Communications under Title 18 USC 875(c).
Quinones is described by Lubbock County jail records by Breitbart Texas as a 5’5″, 130 pound Hispanic male, U.S. citizen.
More from Breitbart:
Charges were filed by the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas. Federal officials say that Quinones, “in view of the protesters, Mr. Quinones held the rifle at ‘low ready,’ in firing position with the muzzle pointed toward the ground, as panic rippled through the assembled crowd.”
Texas law allows for the open carry of a rifle or shotgun but it is against the Texas Penal Code to display such a weapon in a public place “in a manner calculated to alarm,” the Lubbock NBC affiliate reported.
He went on to claim that Lubbock police officers would not have been able to identify the “Trump/MAGA instigators,” but that he could have, investigators said.
After obtaining consent to search the home of Quinones, investigators said they found about 700 rounds of .223 caliber ammunition and about 100 rounds of .40 caliber pistol ammunition. All were reportedly loaded into magazines.
