Angry Over Denial for Disaster Aid, Louisiana Man Pulls Gun

A man who allegedly got a fully loaded AR-15 assault rifle from his pickup truck after being turned down for disaster food stamps is jailed in St. John the Baptist Parish, La.

A claims processor in LaPlace told officers that a man had become irate after being denied Tuesday evening, said Trooper Melissa Matey, a state police spokeswoman.

After officers providing security at the location saw him standing next to his truck and handling the weapon, four state troopers, two sheriff’s deputies and six Louisiana National Guard soldiers sneaked up and surrounded him.

“They kind of took him by surprise and were able to take him into custody,” she said.

Investigators also found a handgun and many loaded magazines of ammunition in the truck, Matey said.

She said Mark Knight, 46, of LaPlace, was booked with terrorizing and aggravated assault. Bond was set at $20,000.

The sheriff’s office website showed that Knight remained in jail Thursday. His attorney did not immediately return a call for comment.

“This is a great example of the rapid and overwhelming response possible when law enforcement agencies partner together,” said Col. Mike Edmonson, Louisiana State Police superintendent. “This situation could have had a different outcome, but an observant state employee alerted the proper personnel and immediate action was taken to alleviate the threat to public safety.”