Woman arrested at Pueblo ‘No Kings’ protest had 10 bullets in gun magazine
Mackenzie Stafford
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) – On Saturday, June 14, Brandon Martin was working as a volunteer security guard for the Pueblo “No Kings” rally. He says he was helping to maintain the peace with the protesters, communicating any issues to the police, and overall being another cog in the wheel of support for law enforcement to ensure things ran smoothly.
“I was actually the police liaison. So my whole role on the protesters’ side was to kind of be the first line of contact with the police in case anything happens, regarding police and protesters, and kind of work on calming down the protesters’ side of things,” explained Martin.
Martin tells KRDO13 it was an overall peaceful protest in Pueblo.
Now, Martin is being hailed a hero for his de-escalation efforts at the protest after aiding in the arrest of an armed woman, accused of attempting to draw her gun at the crowd.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 2 arrested at Pueblo ‘No Kings’ protest, according to Police
“I saw this woman, and she had a Trump hat on – a camo one,” Martin said. “And she was just yelling and kind of, you know, just trying to get through the crowd. So me, being the role that I was, my first instinct was I went up and I was like, ‘Ma’am, where do you want to go? I’ll happily escort you in whatever direction you want.'”
Martin said as he escorted the woman one direction, she changed her mind and started to go another way. He says they had stepped to the side to figure out what direction to go when a protester started to yell at the woman.
“She hit and unbuckled her holster, and it was a two-button holster. So, bam, unbuttoned it. And, you can see in the video, my hands are up and I’m, I’m standing behind her and I’m just saying ma’am, please don’t do this,” recounted Martin.
He tells KRDO13 another security guard nearby was pleading to the woman, “don’t grab the gun, don’t grab the gun, don’t grab the gun.”
Martin tells KRDO13 that as soon as he saw her grab it, he grabbed her. Video obtained by KRDO13 shows the moment Martin took the woman to the ground on a platform in the Sister Cities Plaza in Pueblo.
Martin explained that there was a group of elderly ladies in the area, and that’s where his mind went in the moments leading up to the tackle.
“When I was coming up to the area, there was a whole row of 70-80-year-old women just sitting there. They couldn’t, you know, couldn’t stand anymore, they couldn’t really get up and move, they couldn’t be quick,” said Martin. “And, so in my head immediately I was like, well, if she even touches it, like, that’s the point. Like, I can’t risk it.”
Martin took the woman to the ground while he says another volunteer security guard helped to secure the firearm.
“It takes all of us to make sure we have a safe town and safe community. So if this is my bid I have to do right now, then I’m more than happy to do it until the professionals can get here,” shared Martin.
Pueblo police ended up arresting the woman. They tell KRDO13 she did have a firearm with her at the time of the arrest.
The Pueblo Police Department (PPD) also confirmed that one other person was arrested at the protest for a separate incident. Police say neither party was involved in the rally.
On Monday morning, PPD identified the woman as 54-year-old Laura Hall. Police say she was charged with felony menacing with a deadly weapon and disrupting a lawful assembly.
“Yes, the woman in the video was one of two individuals arrested during the event. Neither appear to be associated with the No Kings March and Rally itself.”
-A spokesperson for the Pueblo Police Department (PPD)
KRDO13 obtained arrest records for Laura Hall, which detail an interview with a protester who was in a verbal altercation with Hall. The protester told police that Hall walked up and called them “full of hate” before reaching for her firearm.
The protester told police they felt terrified and were afraid for their safety and the safety of those around them.
PPD identified Hall’s weapon as a Polymer 80. They say the magazine inside the gun had 10 live 9mm rounds. PPD said there was no live round in the chamber.
Hall told police she was having a discussion about Native Americans and stolen land when she was pushed and shoulder-checked by protestors. At first, Hall told police she did not grab her firearm. Later, Hall said she may have reached toward the gun to move the holster.
Hall is being held in the Pueblo County Jail on a $10,000 bond.