Man Charged with Making Facebook Threat as TV Station Covered Officer's Funeral

(Originally published on Sep. 28, 2016) A concerned citizen called Detroit police and alerted them to a threatening post on Facebook during a live feed of the funeral last week for slain police officer Sgt. Kenneth Steil.

The FBI said the man who posted the threat, Deshawn Maurice Lanton, 21, is now facing charges of “using the internet to transmit a threat,” according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court.

Lanton, who uses the name Kane Pnotes on social media, is accused of writing, "maybe I should drop a bomb on the building to get rid of the rest of y'all" on WXYZ’s Facebook page.

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In a statement, U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade said Lanton's case is different than others on social media that make more generalized threats against police officers other groups "because this statement threatens specific harm to a particular group of people at a precise location."

“Threats to harm or kill police officers are an affront to the men and women who risk their lives daily to protect the communities of Michigan they have pledged to serve. The FBI takes these threats seriously and works closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure threats are evaluated, investigated, and those responsible brought to justice,” David P. Gelios, special agent in charge of the Detroit Division of the FBI, said, also in a statement.

“Just as we are prepared to tirelessly investigate individuals who threaten police officers and other first responders, the FBI remains committed to safeguarding the rights of all individuals specifically targeted because of their race, gender, religion, or other affiliation.”

Lanton made his initial appearance Wednesday afternoon in federal court and was temporarily detained until his bond hearing at 1 p.m. Thursday.

If found guilty of the charges against him, Lanton faces up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

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