Moment ‘Patriot Muster’ protesters clashed with BLM activist before one of the right-wingers slapped Pinkerton private security guard and was shot dead
- Stunning images captured the fatal shooting of an alleged ‘Patriot Muster’ protester on Saturday in Denver
- The protester was seen striking a private security guard hired by 9News outside the Denver Art Museum
- He then deployed a stream of mace at the guard, who responded by lifting his handgun and opening fire
- Social media video showed the victim arguing with a Black Lives Matter counter-protester before he was shot
- The counter-protester told the victim: ‘F***ing mace me,’ as bystanders attempted to pull them away from each other and the Patriot Muster protester stepped out of the video frame
- Seconds later a gunshot rang out and the protester was seen lying on the pavement
- The video did not show the shooter, who immediately surrendered to riot police who rushed in to arrest him
- The protester was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead
- Police said the shooter had no affiliation with a group of Black Lives Matter and Antifa activists who turned out to protest a Patriot Muster rally
- 9News confirmed that the security guard was a Pinkerton contractor working to protect their TV crew
New footage has emerged showing a right-wing ‘Patriot Muster’ protester arguing with a Black Lives Matter counter-protester seconds before he was shot dead by a television crew’s private security guard during dueling rallies outside the Denver Art Museum.
The security guard, who was hired by 9News and has not been named by authorities, was arrested on suspicion of murder on Saturday evening after he opened fire on the unidentified Patriot Muster protester who deployed mace at him during the rally.
In images snapped by a Denver Post photographer, the protester appeared to slap the security guard and then deployed a stream of mace into his face before the guard lifted his handgun and fired, sending the protester staggering backward.
The moments leading up to the shooting were captured in a video posted on social media, which showed the male victim engaged in a shouting match with another man believed to be with a group of Black Lives Matter and Antifa protesters who turned out at the art museum to face off with the Patriot Muster crowd.
The counter-protester, who was wearing a Black Lives Matter shirt, is heard telling the victim: ‘F***ing mace me,’ as bystanders attempt to pull them away from each other.
The counter-protester continues shouting as the Patriot Muster protester walks out of the video frame. Seconds later a gunshot rings out and the protester is seen lying on the pavement.
The video did not show the shooter, who immediately surrendered to riot police who rushed in to arrest him in another clip from local media.
The Denver Police Department (DPD) said the shooter had no known affiliation with a group of Black Lives Matter and Antifa protesters. Police declined to confirm whether the victim, who was declared dead at a hospital, was affiliated with Patriot Muster.
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New footage has emerged showing a right-wing ‘Patriot Muster’ protester (seen in a camouflage bucket hat with his back to the camera) arguing with a Black Lives Matter counter-protester (facing the camera in a blue bandana) seconds before he was shot dead by a television crew’s private security guard during dueling rallies outside the Denver Art Museum
A stunning series of images captured the moment the private security guard working for News9 shot and killed the Patriot Muster protester. In the image above, the protester appears to slap the security guard while holding a can of mace in his hand
A second image showed the Patriot Muster protester deploying mace at the security guard, who lifted his handgun. The security guard was contracted by local TV station News9 through Pinkerton, a private detective and security agency
The Patriot Muster protester staggers backward after the security guard apparently fired his weapon. Neither the protester nor the security guard have been identified by Denver Police as of Sunday morning
The security guard turned and looked toward the camera after fatally shooting the protester who maced him at 3.37pm on Saturday afternoon outside the Denver Art Museum
The security guard immediately laid down his weapon and appeared to tell a 9News producer he was with to back away as riot police rushed toward him
The security guard fell to his knees and immediately surrendered after fatally shooting the man who maced him
9News confirmed that it had hired the guard through the private Pinkerton detective agency to watch over its staff during Saturday’s dueling protests between pro-police groups under the name Patriot Muster and a ‘BLM-Antifa Soup Drive’.
‘A 9NEWS employee and a 9NEWS contractor were taken into custody,’ the station reported, adding that the contractor was deemed to be not involved in the shooting.
‘The private security guard was contracted through Pinkerton by 9NEWS. It has been the practice of 9NEWS for a number of months to hire private security to accompany staff at protests.’
Police had deployed in large numbers for Saturday’s rival rallies. When gunfire rang out at 3.37pm local time more than a dozen officers rushed to the scene to detain the shooter.
The security guard still had his handgun in his grasp when riot police swarmed him with guns pointed. He was filmed falling to his knees as he dropped his weapon and raised his arms above his head.
He was arrested, along with the 9News producer who was later cleared of involvement in the shooting.
The victim was reportedly shot at point-blank range and was taken to a hospital where he later died, Joe Montoya, chief of DPD’s investigations division, said at a news conference on Saturday evening.
‘There was a verbal altercation that transpired at the area of the shooting,’ Montoya said. He declined to connect the gunman and the victim with the protests until the police finished their investigation.
Two guns were recovered at the scene, Montoya said.
The DPD confirmed on Twitter that the shooting was being investigated as a homicide.
The victim was seen wearing a shirt that said ‘BLM’ followed by an obscene phrase that appeared to mock the Black Lives Matter movement. The shirt was partially obscured by his sleeveless military vest.
This is the moment the alleged gunman is arrested moments after he reportedly shot dead a Patriot Muster member who maced him in the face. A gun can clearly be seen to the right of the protester
Police detained the gunmen and several other people following the shooting in Denver on Saturday afternoon
The victim, believed to be attending a Patriot Muster rally, was shot and killed following an argument with a security guard
Paramedics took the victim to hospital where on Saturday afternoon he was declared dead
Both the victim and the gunman were white men, Montoya said. They were not publicly identified by the authorities.
In the Twitter video recorded just before the shooting occurred, the victim and several other Patriot Muster supporters were seen engaged in a heated argument with at least one Black Lives Matter protester.
The shooting victim (left) was seen arguing with a Black Lives Matter protester seconds before he was shot dead
The video began with the BLM protester shouting in the face of the soon-to-be victim, saying: ‘Shoot me mothaf***a. F***ing kill me then n***a.’
Another Patriot Muster supporter stepped in and pushed the BLM protester back as he said: ‘Don’t f***ing touch me n***a. Don’t f***ing touch me.’
The protester looked directly at the victim and said: ‘F***ing mace me,’ as the victim walked toward him holding a can of mace.
The victim said several words that were unintelligible before eventually pulling up his American flag face mask and walking out of the frame to where the security guard was standing about 15 feet away.
The BLM protester continued shouting at the second Patriot Muster supporter for a few seconds before gunfire erupted and the video cut off.
Richard Johnson, who witnessed the shooting, told CBS4 he saw nothing leading up to it that was out of the ordinary.
‘I’m wondering what possible explanation there could be,’ Johnson said.
‘There didn’t seem to be any altercation, there wasn’t any yelling coming from that way, the victim didn’t seem to be advancing on him in a menacing way.
‘He is a large man. But I suspect when this all shakes out it may be something other than what we might think at first.’
The victim (pictured on the ground after being shot) died shortly after he was shot at the Patriot Muster
Officers rushed to the scene of the shooting, near the Civic Center, and formed a cordon around the dead man until ambulances arrived
WHO ARE THE ‘PATRIOT MUSTER’ PROTESTERS?
Patriot Muster is the name given to pro-police activists who have attended rallies organized by John Tiegen, an ex-Marine and Blackwater private security guard.
The group was formed over the summer as Denver, along with dozens of other cities across the US, was roiled by protests against racism and police brutality.
Patriot Muster made headlines in July when it hosted a ‘Back the Blue’ rally that descended into chaos when protesters began clashing with counter-protesters. Tiegen accused the counter-protesters of throwing soup cans at his followers.
Tiegen organized another Patriot Muster rally on Saturday at the Denver Civic Center, under the slogan: ‘Stand up, show up.’
The slogan bore similarities to President Donald Trump’s response when asked to condemn white supremacists and the Proud Boys. Instead of disavowing them he said: ‘Stand back and stand by.’
Black Lives Matter protesters led by the Denver Communists responded by creating their own rally in the same location, dubbed the ‘BLM-Antifa Soup Drive’.
The ‘soup rally’ was meant to be ironic in response to Tiegen accusing leftist protesters of throwing cans.
Tiegen foreshadowed violence at the event on Friday, telling KNUS: ‘I’m not going in there to do violence, but I’m going to be prepared to do violence.’
Rival rallies – which have became a common sight in Denver over the summer – had been called for Saturday afternoon by the opposing groups Patriot Muster and BLM/Antifa groups.
John Tiegen, an ex-Marine and Blackwater private security guard, is credited as the founder of Patriot Muster, which is comprised of pro-police activists.
Tiegen had summoned his followers to the Denver Civic Center park for a 2pm rally under the slogan: ‘Stand up, show up.’
The slogan bore similarities to President Donald Trump’s response when asked to condemn white supremacists and the Proud Boys. Instead of disavowing them he said: ‘Stand back and stand by.’
‘Join myself and hundreds of fellow Patriot Americans for a Muster at Civic Center Park 2pm sharp,’ Tiegen wrote on Instagram.
‘Don’t let the communists, socialist party and groups intimidate or Oppress you any longer! Come join us and be heard & seen and celebrate OUR freedoms.’
Tiegen foreshadowed violence at the event on Friday, telling KNUS: ‘I’m not going in there to do violence, but I’m going to be prepared to do violence.’
BLM-Antifa organized their own rally in the same spot, at 1.30pm – telling their supporters: ‘Counter protest the fascist rally nearby!’
Chelsea Jacobs, a member of the Denver Communists, said that Saturday’s event, dubbed a BLM-Antifa Soup Drive’, had been organized in response to the Patriot Muster.
The ‘soup rally’ was meant to be ironic in response to comments that far-left protesters throw soup cans, she said.
When Saturday afternoon arrived, right-leaning protesters rallied by Tiegen congregated inside the Civic Center’s amphitheater while left-leaning protesters gathered outside.
One member of the BLM-Antifa crowd burnt the blue-colored Stars and Stripes flag used by pro-police groups, pouring lighter fluid over it and setting it ablaze at the feet of the DPD officers.
Large numbers of officers attempted to keep the two sides apart.
Police were not letting anyone else into amphitheater area, but by 3.30pm, the Denver Post reported, the barrier appeared to be coming down.
Police fired what appeared to be pepper balls into the crowd, after people from the leftist group started rattling the barrier headed into the amphitheater.
This isn’t the first time that Tiegen’s sympathizers have clashed with left-wing counterprotesters. Similar unrest unfolded on July 20 at a ‘Back the Blue’ rally organized by Tiegen.
The protester stood in front of the police as the flag went up in flames
The moment of fire: Smoke erupts (in the top right corner) after the gunshot rang out at the protest
A large numbers of officers, in the area to try and keep the two sides apart, then rushed to the scene
Tiegen, the Patriot Muster organizer, said the BLM-Antifa protesters started throwing soup cans at the police.
Police expected there to be trouble. In previous weeks they have asked organizers to cancel or postpone their rallies, to try and tone down tension.
Ahead of Saturday’s rallies, they issued a statement saying the department ‘respects the right to peacefully assemble’.
John Tiegen, organizer of the ‘Patriot Muster’ group, said the BLM-Antifa protesters started throwing soup cans at the police
They continued: ‘Those who participate in protests, demonstrations, marches, or other gatherings, as protected by the First Amendment, are reminded to do so in a lawful manner.
‘Individuals who choose to act outside of local, state and federal law, will be subject to citation or arrest.’
Tiegen is the author of the book 13 Hours, detailing the botched Benghazi raid, which was turned into a film.
Tiegen spent four years in the Marines and then several years as a security contractor with Blackwater Security on missions in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq, he says on his website.
Tiegen then worked for the CIA on their Global Response Staff, deployed to 40 countries around the world.
He was in Libya in September 2011 when the US diplomatic compound in Benghazi was attacked, and four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens, killed.
He received the Award for Heroism and Valor for his bravery that night.
Back in his native Colorado, Tiegen has carved out a career for himself as a motivational speaker.
He regularly appears on television and radio to discuss his views.
On Saturday he said his Facebook page had been taken down.
Tiegen promoted the Patriot Muster gathering with the words: ‘Stand up. Show up’
John Tiegen (left) is pictured at the Republican National Convention in 2016 discussing the 2011 Benghazi attack
From left: Mark Geist, Kris Paronto, John Tiegen and actor Dominic Fumusa arrive for a special screening of 13 Hours in 2016
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