Man Arrested Carrying Gun During El Paso No Kings Protest

During the nationwide "No Kings" protests against President Donald Trump, Michael Edward Abeyta, 47, was arrested in El Paso for unlawfully carrying a weapon. Abeyta was driving alongside the protest with an unholstered handgun displayed on his vehicle's dashboard, prompting a participant to alert police officers who were present for crowd safety. He faced a Class A misdemeanor charge for unlawful carrying of a weapon and was also found to have several outstanding traffic warrants from both El Paso County and the City of El Paso. Abeyta was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility with a total bond of $4,416.56 and later granted a personal recognizance bond with conditions prohibiting him from possessing weapons while awaiting trial. The protest itself remained peaceful despite the incident, which was the only reported arrest. This arrest underscores ongoing concerns about public safety during large demonstrations.