When Protests Turn Dangerous: A Las Vegas Lesson on Self-Defense and Order
A man was arrested after pulling a knife during a massive “No Kings” protest in Las Vegas last Saturday. The incident has sparked debate about self-defense laws and citizen intervention during political demonstrations.
Andrew Stafford faces felony assault charges after admitting he brandished a knife during the downtown protest. Around 8,000 people had gathered to protest President Trump’s policies. The demonstration was largely peaceful, but tensions flared in some areas.
Stafford claims he was just trying to get back to his room after cashing a winning basketball ticket. He says someone asked if he was a Trump supporter, and things escalated from there. But video footage reviewed by legal experts tells a more complex story.
Two Different Stories
Stafford’s version sounds dramatic. He claims 10 to 20 protesters surrounded him and someone threw a punch. He says he pulled out his knife because he was scared and thought he was going to get jumped.
But here’s the problem. The video evidence doesn’t clearly show Stafford being surrounded or threatened the way he describes. There’s no clear evidence of anyone throwing a punch at him on the footage.
What the video does show is Stafford pulling out a knife during the protest. An armed citizen who witnessed this stepped in to stop what he saw as a dangerous situation.
Man arrested at ‘No Kings’ protest claims self-defense amid knife incident
A protest in downtown Las Vegas turned tense when a man was arrested after allegedly brandishing a knife. pic.twitter.com/e4uYEvB3PG— KSNV News 3 Las Vegas (@News3LV) June 20, 2025
The Armed Citizen’s Response
The unnamed armed citizen said he saw Stafford brandish a knife and immediately took action:
“He immediately turns around and pulls out a weapon from a concealed position. Pulls out a knife. And presents it. And I pepper spray him instantly because I see him grabbing a weapon,”
The armed citizen then followed Stafford across the street and drew his firearm to try to detain him until police arrived:
“I followed him across the street. And I drew on him my firearm. And I tried to apprehend him before he hurt someone,”
This raises important questions about citizen intervention. When is it appropriate for armed citizens to step in during volatile situations?
The Legal Reality
Legal expert Neama Rahmani explained the legal framework that applies here:
“You can effect a citizen’s arrest if you see a misdemeanor happening or if a felony happens and you know that the person you are going after is the one who committed the felony. So brandishing a knife is a felony under Nevada law.”
The legal expert also reviewed the armed citizen’s response:
“In these circumstances, based on me seeing someone brandish a knife at a protest in front of a crowd. That is enough for a person to deploy the mace, deploy the pepper spray and brandish the firearm but not shoot it.”
In Nevada, brandishing a weapon in front of two or more people is illegal, even if done in claimed self-defense. The law requires that any defensive force be proportional to the actual threat faced.
Why This Matters to Conservatives
This case highlights several issues that should concern anyone who values both law and order and individual rights.
First, we’re seeing how quickly situations can spiral out of control at political protests. Even someone who claims they weren’t participating can end up facing serious criminal charges.
Second, this shows the importance of having clear, fair self-defense laws. If Stafford genuinely felt threatened, he should have legal options to protect himself. But those options need to be based on actual threats, not just fear or misunderstanding.
Third, we’re seeing ordinary citizens step up to maintain safety when they witness potentially dangerous behavior. The armed citizen who intervened believed he was preventing someone from getting hurt. That kind of community responsibility deserves respect, not criticism.
What the Numbers Show
Police made 15 arrests during the “No Kings” protest, with four being juveniles. One arrest was for felony assault with a deadly weapon (Stafford’s case) and another for possession of a dangerous weapon.
This was actually fewer arrests than earlier in the week. Police had made 94 arrests and cited seven juveniles when they declared an earlier anti-ICE protest an “unlawful assembly”. The lower arrest numbers suggest Saturday’s protest was more controlled overall.
The 8,000-person crowd size shows this was a significant demonstration, making crowd control and public safety major concerns for law enforcement.
What’s Next
Stafford faces serious consequences. Court records show he has a prior charge for the same offense, which could hurt his case. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 15.
If convicted, he could face significant jail time for what started as him just trying to get back to his room. This shows how quickly everyday situations can turn into legal nightmares during tense political times.
We’re likely to see more incidents like this as political demonstrations continue across the country. The key is having clear laws and consistent enforcement that protects both public safety and individual rights.
The truth is, we may never know exactly what happened in those chaotic moments in Las Vegas. But we do know that better laws, better training, and better leadership could prevent these situations from happening in the first place.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
