Missouri state Rep. Anthony Ealy Jr. was arrested on suspicion of threatening to kill another person, one day after securing reelection. The Democratic lawmaker, however, says he was not the aggressor.
Ealy, 32, allegedly created a disturbance outside a Jefferson City business at about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday while a family was inside making funeral arrangements, according to FOX 4, which cited a probable cause statement.
According to the statement, a person approached Ealy in an effort to calm the situation. The lawmaker allegedly said he was carrying a gun, moved toward the individual and repeatedly threatened, “I’m going to kill you. Call the police, I’m going to kill you.”
“It was definitely a scene, it was pretty chaotic,” one witness told the local television station.
Other witnesses reportedly gave police accounts that supported the person who said they had attempted to intervene.
Authorities arrested Ealy at his home roughly 20 minutes later. After being advised of his Miranda rights, he reportedly denied threatening anyone or referring to a firearm, according to the probable cause statement.
On Thursday, the Democratic representative was charged with misdemeanor assault and disturbing the peace.
He was booked into the Cole County Jail and released the following day.
In a statement to The Post, Ealy denied wrongdoing and offered a different account of the confrontation. He said he had been smoking a cigarette when someone pushed him, chased him and wielded a baseball bat.
Ealy also suggested that the incident may be connected to his Christian faith, his race and his reelection victory.
“I believe this has something to do with my Christian Faith, that I’m black and reelected. Something a prophecy,” he said in part.
“I do not know anything else, I want peace and for this to be wrapped up but thats all I have to say. Something else bigger is going on,” Ealy added.
“My record speaks for itself. True prophets live through this mess,” he said.
Ealy was first elected to represent Grandview in the Missouri House in 2022. He won a third election Tuesday with 68% of the vote, according to the local outlet.
His initial victory made him Grandview’s first Black state representative and the youngest lawmaker in the district.
Last spring, Ealy was removed from all committee assignments so he could focus on personal matters. FOX 4 reported, citing the chief of staff for House Democratic Minority Leader Ashley Aune, that there were no plans to return him to committee posts for the 2027 legislative session.
House Democratic leaders had urged Ealy to consider letting another candidate seek the seat before he announced his reelection campaign.
The Post has contacted the Jefferson City Police Department for additional information.
