On September 23, at approximately 11:30 a.m., a woman entered High Caliber Guns in Long Beach, Mississippi, and announced, “I need a gun”. The individual identified herself as a protester and activist, explaining that she sought a firearm and pepper spray for self-defense during a demonstration because she believed “ICE agents are becoming crazy and wild”. The woman was later identified as Lisa C. White a Florida-licensed attorney who has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1995 and previously practiced in Broward County.
Store employees quickly recognized the gravity of the statements. While White examined two high-powered pistols, she gestured toward her torso and asked whether the weapons could penetrate an agent’s body armor. When the clerk indicated that some models might not, White replied that she would need to aim for the head, shoulder, arm, or leg. The employee, adhering to store policy and public safety concerns, refused to complete the sale and suggested White return in a few days.
The gun-shop confrontation and immediate reporting
The encounter was reported to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) which subsequently informed Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). HSI Special Agent John Griggs filed a criminal complaint documenting White’s threats, including her explicit statement that she intended to kill Immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) agents. The complaint also notes that White specifically inquired whether the firearms could breach ballistic vests, a question that underscored the lethal intent behind her remarks.
Federal investigation and arrest
Following the tip, HSI agents, in coordination with ATF and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted interviews with the gun-store staff and reviewed surveillance footage. The investigation led to White’s identification and subsequent apprehension in Long Beach later that same day. She was taken into custody without bond, and a federal criminal complaint now charges her with threatening a federal law-enforcement officer. Assistant Special Agent in Charge Matthew Reidell of HSI Gulfport emphasized that threats against federal personnel are treated with the utmost seriousness, praising the store employees for their vigilance.
Potential charges and sentencing
Authorities are preparing to prosecute White under statutes that make it a felony to influence, impede, or retaliate against a federal official by threat. Under federal law, such an offense can carry a maximum imprisonment term of up to 10 years depending on the circumstances. White’s legal standing remains clear: she is a member in good standing of the Florida Bar with no recorded disciplinary actions, and she currently resides in Mississippi.
The arrest occurs against a backdrop of rising hostility toward ICE personnel. Federal officials have reported sharp increases in assaults, vehicle attacks, and death threats directed at ICE agents, highlighting the heightened risk environment in which law-enforcement officers operate. HSI reiterated that it will continue to investigate and prosecute any threats against federal officers, underscoring a zero-tolerance policy for such behavior.
