Federal agents say a Florida-licensed attorney walked into a Mississippi gun shop, vowed to kill immigration officers, and tried to buy a gun and pepper spray.
Story Snapshot
- Homeland Security Investigations arrested Lisa C. White after a reported threat at a Mississippi gun store.
- A federal complaint describes questions about shooting through body armor and targeting agents’ unprotected areas.
- Store staff alerted federal authorities; agents arrested White the next day on a federal threat charge.
- Prosecutors cite a law against threatening federal officials, which can carry up to 10 years in prison.
What Investigators Say Happened in the Gun Store
Homeland Security Investigations, a branch of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, arrested Lisa C. White after a reported incident at High Caliber Guns in Long Beach, Mississippi, on September 23, 2026. A federal complaint says White told staff she “needed a gun,” described herself as an activist, and spoke about killing federal agents. The store owner contacted federal officials. Agents interviewed witnesses and moved to arrest White on September 24 based on the reported threats.
A public release from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement says White tried to buy a firearm and pepper spray while making explicit threats to kill federal agents. The agency says staff reported that she asked if bullets could go through ballistic vests. If not, she allegedly said she would aim for the head, shoulder, arm, or leg. The agency identified the expected federal charge: threatening to influence, impede, or retaliate against a federal official.
How the Case Reached Federal Authorities
Local reporting says the gun store alerted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which then referred the matter to Homeland Security Investigations. Agents conducted interviews after the referral and arrested White the next day. This chain shows that the report did not start as an anonymous tip. It moved from the shop to federal regulators and then to investigators who prepared the complaint and arrest action.
Coverage also ties the key quotes to a federal complaint signed by a named agent. Reports attribute the description of the comments about body armor and alternate aiming points to that complaint. While the articles do not publish the full filing, they cite the document for the timeline, the statements in the store, and the follow-up steps that officers took between September 23 and 24 in coastal Mississippi.
The Law, the First Amendment, and Why This Charge Matters
Federal law bars threats that aim to influence, impede, or retaliate against federal officials. The offense can bring up to 10 years in prison and a fine. Courts also draw a line between political hyperbole and a “true threat.” In 2023, the Supreme Court held that prosecutors must show at least recklessness about the threatening nature of the words. Context, target, and intent all matter when speech crosses into criminal conduct.
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
The government’s theory here pairs the words with conduct. Investigators say the threat came inside a gun shop and included questions about defeating armor while seeking a gun and pepper spray. Those details can help show intent and a specific target class: federal immigration agents. At the same time, the case will still have to meet the “true threat” standard in court, which requires proof of the speaker’s mindset under Supreme Court guidance.
Why This Story Taps National Nerves
Americans across the spectrum worry that threats against public servants make the job unsafe and weaken the rule of law. Others worry that heated speech could be swept into criminal cases too fast. This case sits at that fault line. Immigration enforcement is a flashpoint. When a threat is aimed at officers, and tied to a gun purchase attempt, it tests how the system balances safety, liberty, and accountability without favoring any side of politics.
Sources:
pjmedia.com, wlox.com, kfoxtv.com
