Detroit Man Threatens to Bomb Officer’s Funeral

DETROIT – A 22-year-old Detroit resident, DeShawn Maurice Lanton, admitted today to posting a chilling threat during the live-streamed funeral of slain Detroit Police Sergeant Kenneth Steil. Lanton pleaded guilty before Judge Sean F. Cox, facing a likely sentence of 15 to 21 months behind bars for his reckless online outburst.

The incident unfolded on September 23, 2016, as Channel 7 Action News broadcast Sergeant Steil’s funeral via Facebook Live. While hundreds of officers gathered to honor their fallen brother, Lanton, operating under the Facebook handle “Kane Pnotes,” unleashed a venomous message into the live chat. His post, a direct threat to the assembled mourners, read: “maybe I should drop a bomb on tha building to get rid of the rest of y’all.”

Several viewers immediately flagged the comment as a genuine threat, contacting law enforcement. The Detroit Police Department, in conjunction with the FBI, swiftly identified Lanton and launched an investigation. The threat, authorities determined, crossed the line from protected speech into illegal territory. The case was spearheaded by United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade, alongside Special Agent in Charge David P. Gelios of the FBI’s Detroit Division, and Detroit Police Chief James Craig.

“We are committed to prosecuting any threat that rises to the level of a ‘true threat’ under the law,” McQuade stated bluntly. “While criticism of government and law enforcement is generally protected by the First Amendment, specific threats to harm police officers cross the legal line.” The prosecution successfully argued that Lanton’s statement wasn’t simply venting frustration, but a credible expression of intent to commit violence.

Sergeant Kenneth Steil was tragically murdered in the line of duty, a loss that deeply impacted the Detroit Police Department and the city as a whole. To then target his funeral with such callous disregard demonstrates a profound lack of respect and a willingness to inflict further pain. Lanton’s guilty plea acknowledges the seriousness of his actions, but does little to soothe the anger felt by those who served alongside Steil.

The sentencing hearing for DeShawn Maurice Lanton is pending. This case serves as a stark reminder that online threats carry real-world consequences, and that authorities will not tolerate attempts to intimidate or harm law enforcement, even through the anonymity of the internet. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing.

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