Homeland Security investigators arrested a Florida-licensed attorney after gun-store staff reported she vowed to kill immigration agents while trying to buy a firearm in Mississippi.
Story Snapshot
- Homeland Security Investigations arrested Lisa C. White after an alleged threat at a Mississippi gun shop.
- Witnesses said she asked if bullets could pierce body armor and discussed aiming for unprotected areas.
- Officials said she tried to buy a gun and pepper spray during the encounter on September 23.
- Prosecutors cited a federal law on threats against officials that can carry up to 10 years in prison.
Arrest Stemming From Gun-Store Threat Report
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arrested Lisa C. White, a Florida-licensed attorney living in Mississippi, after a gun store reported that she threatened to kill federal agents. Officials said the incident happened on September 23 at High Caliber Guns in Long Beach, Mississippi. Staff told authorities that White said she needed a gun and threatened to kill immigration agents. HSI announced the arrest on September 24 and described explicit threats against federal personnel.
Local reporting says a federal complaint by HSI Special Agent John Griggs documented the store encounter. The complaint described White identifying herself as a protester and asking for a gun. The report said the store owner alerted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which then referred the matter to Homeland Security Investigations. Agents interviewed witnesses and moved forward with an arrest the next day in Gulfport, Mississippi.
Alleged Questions About Body Armor and Targeting
News accounts say White asked if bullets could pierce an agent’s ballistic vest and gestured to her torso during the exchange. When told vests could stop rounds, she allegedly said she would aim at the head, shoulder, arm, or leg instead. Outlets quoting the complaint describe these details as part of the probable cause for the threat charge. These statements, if proven, could help prosecutors argue intent and target selection under the law.
Reports also say White tried to buy pepper spray along with a firearm during the visit. Officials said the threat happened during the attempted purchase, not online or after the fact. That timing ties the alleged words to steps to acquire a weapon. Authorities said the case involves threats against federal officers performing their duties, which raises public safety concerns beyond a heated political rant.
Charge, Penalties, and Legal Standards
Officials and local outlets identified a federal statute covering threats aimed at influencing, impeding, or retaliating against a federal official. Reporting noted a potential maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if a court convicts. That charge has been used in cases where words and actions show a serious expression of intent to commit violence against specific government workers, such as immigration officers.
The Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling in Counterman v. Colorado set a key test for “true threats.” The Court said prosecutors must show the speaker had some subjective understanding that the words were threatening, and that recklessness can meet the standard. In practice, investigators look at context, target, and conduct. Questions about body armor and attempts to buy a weapon can weigh into that analysis at charging and trial stages.
Why This Case Matters Across Politics
Threats against public workers force agencies to act fast to protect lives. Many Americans, on both left and right, worry that the system often punishes average people while insiders skate. This case spotlights that tension. Here, a private business sounded the alarm, federal agents responded, and a court process will now test the claim. The facts alleged point to a specific target, real steps to get a weapon, and a clear security risk.
Florida attorney Lisa White charged after walking into a Mississippi gun shop and saying she needed a g*n to k*ll ICE agents.
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White, 70, of Diamondhead told employees at High Caliber Guns in Long Beach on September 23 that she was an activist and protester who needed a firearm… pic.twitter.com/1ZOLQXUHri— Newyorker4ever (@zingari888) October 22, 2026
Immigration enforcement remains a flashpoint under President Trump, and emotions run hot. Yet the law draws a line between harsh political speech and a true threat. The next steps will come in court filings and hearings. For now, officials say witnesses reported explicit plans to kill federal agents, delivered while trying to buy tools to do it. That is why the case moved quickly from a store counter to a federal arrest.
Sources:
pjmedia.com, wlox.com, ice.gov, thepostmillennial.com, knoe.com
