LA district attorney’s husband facing charges for waving gun at protesters

by Justine Coleman - 08/04/20 4:16 PM ET

The Los Angeles County district attorney’s husband will face charges over allegedly waving a gun at protesters in March, according to charging documents filed Monday.

David Lacey, the husband of Jackie Lacey, faces three misdemeanor charges of assault with a firearm after he is accused of pointing a gun at demonstrators who were outside of his house in Granada Hills, Calif.

The California attorney general’s office took on investigating the case to prevent a conflict of interest, a law enforcement official told the Los Angeles Times.

On March 2, Black Lives Matter protesters demonstrated outside of the Laceys’ home in a predawn protest. When a few activists knocked on the door asking for Jackie Lacey, her husband allegedly appeared with a handgun pointed at demonstrators.

“I don’t care who you are. Get off of my porch right now. We’re calling the police right now,” David Lacey allegedly said, in response to the requests.

Melina Abdullah, a prominent Los Angeles Black Lives Matter activist and Cal State University professor, says she was one of the people David Lacey pointed the gun at.

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.

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

— Melina Abdullah (@DocMellyMel) March 2, 2020

Later the same day, Jackie Lacey apologized for her husband’s response to the demonstrations.

“His response was in fear, and now that he realizes what happened, he wanted me to say to the protesters, the person that he showed the gun to, that he was sorry, that he was profoundly sorry,” she said.

“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,” she continued.

David Lacey’s attorney Samuel E. Tyre said in a statement that the team was “disappointed” that the conduct in question was considered “criminal behavior.”

“We disagree entirely with their assessment, but we have the utmost faith in the justice system, and we are confident that the correct result will be reached,” he said.

He added that the team isn’t commenting on the case “at this time … except to say that my client’s human instinct is forever and always to protect his wife and his family and to keep them safe from physical harm.”

Jackie Lacey issued a separate statement this week, saying the “events that took place” earlier in the 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,” she said. “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.”

Black Lives Matter activists have criticized Jackie Lacey for what they believe is too soft an approach when prosecuting police officers. She said during the March press conference that protest organizers refused to meet with her privately.

Jackie Lacey will go up against former San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón in the November election.

Updated 4:46 p.m.