Army vet charged for shooting PoC girl during Trump meet

Iowa City (US), Jan. 16: A white military veteran shot and wounded a 15-year-old girl when he fired his gun into a car carrying four Person of Colour teenagers during a tense confrontation at a Trump rally near the Iowa Capitol last month.

Michael McKinney, 25, is charged with attempted murder in the Dec. 6 shooting in Des Moines. McKinney, who was heavily armed and wearing body armor, told police he fired the shot in selfdefence. A resident of tiny St. Charles, Iowa, McKinney has posted on Facebook in support of the far-right Proud Boys and against Black Lives Matter. In a news release detailing McKinney’s arrest, the state police described an afternoon shooting at a parking lot and didn't mention the Trump car rally or the race of those involved.

A city police spokesman said initial reports indicated the shooting was trafficrelated. Division of Criminal Investigation spokesman Mitch Mortvedt said the agency released the immediate facts and circumstances as required. But a review by shows the shooting was sparked by a belligerent political clash between a large group of white Trump supporters and four unarmed PoC girls all aged 16 and under.

The teen driver’s mother said the girls argued with Trump supporters about politics and were subjected to racial slurs. Rallygoers blamed the teens for starting the confrontation, saying they were harassing and threatening the crowd.

The girls’ car ended up surrounded by Trump supporters who were yelling and honking horns before the driver went in reverse and struck a pickup.

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