After the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) received an anonymous tip warning that Deon McKay, a “multi-convicted felon,” was living with his girlfriend and still had access to guns, an investigation into McKay began.
The tipster, who prosecutors said McKay had already threatened to kill, warned police that McKay was “a felon who is in possession of firearms” and was having his girlfriend purchase firearms for him.
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“Mr. McKay threatened that person’s life,” a prosecutor said during McKay’s detention hearing April 13. “The threat was made… in a verbal conversation. We believe the defendant is a danger to that victim – who happens to be the mother of a couple of his kids.”
According to prosecutors, there was an unserved personal protection order (PPO) that expired before it could be served against McKay out of the state of California.
“Mr. McKay also texted the victim a picture of himself… he appears to be outdoors stuffing a firearm inside his pants.”
Defense: “What is the government suggesting? That he’s going to the shooting range to practice his aim on this person in California? That he plans on driving out west to so he can commit an assassination? I think that’s a little bit far-fetched.”
Federal Judge: “If he did in fact say, ‘I’m going to kill you,’ would you say that would be far-fetched?”
Defense: “No.”
Background on investigation
In February 2026, ATF agents learned McKay had used the shooting range at Action Impact Firearms and Training Center in Eastpointe “seven times between August of 2025 and March of 2026.”
They showed McKay checking in and presenting what “appears to be ammunition that he brought.” Another image, the feds said, captures McKay on the range, with a red circle marking a muzzle flash.
At Action Impact, federal investigators said they learned McKay checked into the range multiple times and listed a St. Clair Shores address. Surveillance footage from March 3 showed McKay arriving and leaving in a white 2019 Ford Escape. They said the SUV was registered to his girlfriend, Samantha Greiner.
By mid-March, the gun range had additional surveillance footage of McKay returning on March 15, 2026. But the gun range visits were only one part of the story.
Recorded phone calls
Agents also focused on purchasing attempts tied to Palmetto State Armory, a national firearms retailer, and a set of recorded calls.
Between August 2025 and February 2026, it appeared McKay and/or Greiner “either made or attempted to make multiple purchases,” including accessories and “two firearms that appear to have been returned… and not transferred.”
McKay was allegedly speaking with the retailer about one attempted purchase, saying his “significant other” bought a firearm but used the wrong information and ordered it in his name instead of hers. He told the operator, according to the feds, that she used his debit card and had him call to request a refund.
In another recorded call from August 2025, court records said, McKay contacted the retailer about an order flagged as fraud and said he was calling “on behalf of his fiancé.” The operator initially refused to discuss the account, and McKay then merged Greiner into the call so she could answer authentication questions. At one point, McKay responded by asking: “Okay, and you send it back to my bank?”
Agents then began watching McKay’s home over several days, documenting McKay and Greiner arriving, leaving and retrieving items. On March 28, 2026, McKay arrived as the driver and took out a suspected firearm from the passenger compartment before going inside.
Meanwhile, investigators said the ammo brands observed or purchased -- Winchester, Magtech and Sellier & Bellot -- were not manufactured in Michigan and therefore “travelled in interstate commerce.”
McKay’s criminal history includes felony convictions for burglary, vehicle theft, a parole violation and obstructing or resisting an officer.
Judge denies bond, calls him ‘agitated’
Prosecutors said during McKay’s detention hearing that he was a danger to the community and a risk of flight. He was allegedly told to stop talking over his attorney several times.
Judge: “You were very agitated. It gives me the impression that you are not someone who likes to take direction… My order is to detain Mr. McKay.”
McKay’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 23 at 1 p.m.