KSTP: New Video About Possible Gun at Jake Lang Rally involving Spider-Man.
Jack Rice appears on Minneapolis ABC affiliate KSTP to discuss his representation of the “Minneapolis Spider-Man,” following an incident involving vehicles, protesters, and Minneapolis police officers.
Since that first appearance, our office has been presented with additional video footage that may significantly change the way the events of that day should be viewed.
Watch KSTP Video about possible gun at Jake Lang rally in Minneapolis.
The video appears to show the driver of a black truck carrying Jake Lang holding what appears to be a black semi-automatic handgun in his right hand. The individual appears to hold the firearm against the steering wheel while pointing it through the windshield in the direction of citizens and multiple Minneapolis police officers.
If that video is an accurate depiction of what occurred, it raises serious questions about the circumstances faced by everyone at the scene — including both citizens and Minneapolis police officers.
Photo by Derek Koshiol
A Different Perspective on the Threat
Over the years, I have represented multiple people in the Twin Cities who have faced serious criminal charges arising from allegations that they displayed or brandished firearms from moving vehicles.
Those cases have included charges such as Felony Threats of Violence under Minn. Stat. § 609.713, subd. 1, as well as Second-Degree Assault under Minn. Stat. § 609.222 and even Felony 4th Degree Assault of a Police Officer.
The reason this newly provided video is so important is not simply because of what it may show about the people inside the vehicles. It may also provide important context about the actual threat perceived by people on the ground that day.
Law enforcement officers responding to a chaotic scene have to make decisions based upon the circumstances confronting them at the time. If an individual was, in fact, pointing what appeared to be a semi-automatic handgun through the windshield toward officers and members of the public, that is a circumstance that deserves serious consideration when evaluating everything that happened afterward including the right of people to defend themselves.
Watch KSTP Story about possible gun at Jake Lang rally in Minneapolis.
The Trucks on the Sidewalk Raise Additional Questions
The firearm issue is not the only part of the evidence that warrants a closer look.
There is also the conduct involving two large trucks that moved onto a public sidewalk where people were present.
That conduct raises questions about whether individuals on the sidewalk reasonably feared imminent harm and whether the circumstances could support potential Fifth-Degree Assault allegations under Minn. Stat. § 609.224.
Again, the point is not to prejudge the evidence or determine guilt from a video clip. The point is that all of the available evidence needs to be considered.
A criminal case cannot fairly be evaluated by looking at only one moment or one perspective.
Self-Defense and Defense of Others
Because of the evidence we have now received, we have asserted self-defense and defense of others in this case.
Minnesota law recognizes that people may, under appropriate circumstances, use reasonable force to protect themselves or another person from an imminent threat of harm.
That means the circumstances surrounding the alleged conduct matter.
What did the people involved see?
What did they reasonably believe was happening?
What threats were present at the scene?
What did the officers and members of the public actually face?
And what does the complete video evidence show?
Those questions deserve answers before anyone reaches conclusions about criminal responsibility.
We Hope Prosecutors Take a Closer Look
We hope the Hennepin County Attorney's Office and the Minneapolis City Attorney's Office will take a closer look at the evidence that is now available.
The justice system works best when prosecutors, defense attorneys, law enforcement, and the courts have the opportunity to examine the complete picture — not simply the most convenient portion of it.
The newly provided video may be an important piece of that picture.
For Spider-Man, our responsibility is to make sure that the evidence is fully investigated and that every applicable defense is presented. That includes self-defense and defense of others.
Ultimately, the question is not simply what happened after the trucks arrived. It is what was happening at the time, what people reasonably perceived, and what threats they were actually facing.
Facing Criminal Charges in Minneapolis or the Twin Cities?
If you or someone you love is facing criminal charges in Minneapolis or anywhere in the Twin Cities, you need an attorney who will investigate the evidence, challenge the prosecution's version of events, and fight to protect your rights.
Contact Jack Rice Defense for a free, confidential consultation:
651-447-7650
612-227-1339
When the stakes are high, the details matter. And sometimes, the video tells a very different story.
Watch KSTP story about possible gun at Jake Lang rally in Minneapolis.