By: Alyssa Wilson

An army veteran was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for injuring a girl after shooting into a car full of Black teenagers at a rally for former President Donald Trump in Iowa.  

The incident took place in December 2020 near the Iowa state capitol. According to the Associated Press, 26-year-old Michael McKinney shot into a car, saying he feared he was in danger and did it to protect himself.  

Officials said Trump supporters surrounded the car full of teenage girls after a heated exchange between the two parties. The driver of the car then backed up and hit a pickup truck. McKinney, who was wearing body armor and carrying firearms, shot into the car, hitting one of the girls.   

He pleaded guilty to intimidation with a dangerous weapon and willful injury in June. Both charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years, and the charge of intimidation with a dangerous weapon must carry a sentence of prison time under Iowa law, the Des Moines Register reported. Prosecutors asked the judge to make the two terms consecutive for a maximum of 20 years.  

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In court, a statement from the girl who was shot was read and highlighted how the incident had impacted her life. According to the Des Moines Register, she said “I believed I was going to die that day I was shot. I didn’t know if I would be able to walk again. I’m a 16-year-old young lady and would love to love myself, but it’s hard when I look at my scars and remember the events of Dec. 6, 2020.”  

McKinney has been in police custody since he was arrested and he apologized to the girl, saying he used poor judgment on the day. Authorities did not put emphasis on any political or racial context sparking the shooting, alleging it was caused by a traffic dispute.  

Trump supporters criticized McKinney’s arrest, saying he was pro-police and frequently attended “Back the Blue” rallies. He had no criminal history and was honorably discharged from the military, so a judge ordered the two sentences to run concurrently for a maximum sentence of 10 years. Prosecutors did not pursue hate crime charges in the case.  

If you or someone you know is struggling from trauma triggered by this story, resources are available here.