DETROIT – A news conference to address threats against Detroit police was held Wednesday morning and charges were announced against a man who allegedly posted threats against police on social media.
Nheru Gowan Littleton, 40 , of Detroit is charged with making terroristic threats and using a computer to commit a crime. Both are 20-year felonies.
"Threatening the life of a police officer is a threat against our entire community. We take these threats very seriously," said Chief Craig. "I've made a commitment to the men and women of the Detroit Police Department, I will not ignore those who threaten their safety. I refuse to let threats against officers go without a response."
Littleton allegedly posted numerous direct threats to law enforcement officers on social media. The post was reported to the Dearborn Police Department.
F- them racist a- white cops!!! Kill them ALL!!! Black Lives Matter!!! Black people should start killing all white cops just like they are killing us!!! Then and only then will this s- stop!!! Why you ask? Because white people will be dropping like flies!!!"
Dearborn police issued a Law Enforcement Information Network message to all area law enforcement agencies about the threat.
Littleton has a valid concealed pistol license and owns a Smith and Wesson. 45 caliber firearm, according to the attorney general's office.
"A threat to law enforcement officers is a threat to us all," said Schuette. "The men and women who stand between mothers and children and those that want to do harm should be able to do their job without the fear of an unprovoked attack. This is a fight worth fighting, we cannot allow it to be open season on police."
Threats made during officer's funeral
In the wake of recent threats centered on the Facebook profile of Deshawn Lanton, Detroit police Chief James Craig and Attorney General Bill Schuette announced terrorism charges at Detroit Public Safety headquarters at 1301 Third Street.
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Lanton allegedly made threats via social media on Sept. 23 about bombing the funeral of Cpt. Kenneth Steil, a police officer who was gunned-down earlier in September, according to police.
Read: FBI: Man made threats online to bomb funeral for slain Detroit police officer
While the funeral was livestreaming, the threat was posted at 11:28 a.m. on a Facebook profile called “Kane Pnotes,” according to investigators. A concerned citizen forwarded the post to police.
According to authorities, Lanton posted:
Maybe I should drop a bomb on tha building to get rid of the rest of y’all.”
A criminal complaint filed Sept. 28 was linked to the Facebook profile, where investigators found further videos of police suffering injuries with comments indicating how pleased Lanton was to see officers being injured, authorities said. The profile also showed Lanton posing with firearms and identifying himself as a member of the “Money Gang, according to authorities.
Lanton’s girlfriend, brother, and a friend defended him, saying, “It’s a freedom of speech,” and "He's not a dangerous man," in response to his Facebook profile filled with images of police getting shot.
More: Man accused in Detroit police officer's funeral threat case makes bizarre court appearance
It wasn't the first threat made after the death of a police officer. According to Craig, threats targeting Detroit police were found on Facebook after the deaths of five police officers in the Dallas shootings in early July. Charges were dropped because of a lack of evidence, according to Wayne County prosecutor, Kym Worthy.
Read back: Prosecutor won't charge 3 accused of online police threats.
The news conference was held in the Michigan Room of the Detroit Public Safety headquarters.
Here is the report of the Facebook threat made Lanton: