DETROIT – A Melvindale man is accused of making online threats to shoot and kill federal law enforcement officers -- even allegedly posting the threats publicly across Facebook, Threads and TikTok after a prior search warrant and a warning from agents.
A Detroit Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent filed a criminal complaint on July 14, 2026, charging Michael Gary Petersen, 41, of Melvindale, of Threat to assault or murder federal law enforcement and Interstate communications involving threats.
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The January posts that triggered the investigation
HSI Detroit said it received information on Jan. 9, 2026, forwarded from FBI Detroit, about threats directed at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) employees posted publicly on social media.
The accounts appeared to be “managed, used by, or registered to Michael Gary Petersen,” the feds said.
Petersen allegedly had a “substantial social media presence” promoting an amateur filmmaking business called Dark Fortress Pictures LLC, which was registered in Michigan in 2012.
On a Jan. 8, 2026, Facebook post, Petersen was allegedly reacting to an ICE-related shooting in Minnesota the day before. According to the feds, it included a wanted-poster-style image of an ICE officer and referenced an altered quote from the movie Inglourious Basterds, when Lieutenant Aldo Raine said, “Each man under my command owes me 100 MAGA scalps…and I want my scalps!”
In the complaint, the feds said MAGA, referencing supporters of President Donald J. Trump and conservatives, replaced the word ‘Nazi’, as the movie was set during World War II. In response to another user’s comment on that Facebook post, the complaint said Petersen wrote: “I can’t wait till someone shoots him in the face.”
On Threads that same day, the feds said the account “dark_fortress_pictures_llc” responded to a post depicting an ICE agent, saying: “Oh I plan to shoot all of them if I see them in my neighborhood.”
TikTok posts described in the complaint included a clip from the movie Fargo showing a violent shooting during a traffic stop, with a caption that read: “When #ICE tries to get into your vehicle without #concent #FAFO #FDT #sayhername.”
When a user objected to that, the feds said the account replied: “When it comes to people like ICE, all bets are off.” Another exchange includes, “Oh I plan to. First chance I get,” allegedly speaking about using guns to go after ICE agents.
The feds said in a transcript of a Jan. 8, 2026, TikTok video, Petersen is speaking directly to the camera, describing “pitchforks, torches, and our guns,” and warning that if he saw ICE agents in his neighborhood, “there’s not gonna be any of ‘em left and that’s a damn f**king fact.”
In another video, Petersen allegedly referred to ICE as “the American gestapo,” and described seeing “all four angles” of a Minnesota shooting, warning: “Do not come on here and start crying when they start dropping off like flies.” He added: “You also forget we carry, too, and we’re better shots,” the feds said.
Search warrant, warning -- and more posts, feds say
On Jan. 16, 2026, law enforcement said they searched Petersen’s home. About two weeks later, the feds said Petersen came to the HIS office in Detroit to pick up his property. HSI agents said they reminded Petersen that he has “a right to express himself,” but “crosses a line” when he “threatens to murder law enforcement officers.” They allegedly told him to find “a more suitable outlet” for his frustrations.
“The interaction was cordial, and Petersen expressed appreciation for the warning,” the feds said.
But investigators say the threatening posts continued into June and July.
On July 7, 2026, the Protection Intelligence division of ICE said it alerted HSI Detroit that Petersen had made more threatening statements online, even after Petersen had been warned.
In one message dated June 7, 2026, “dark_fortress_pictures_llc” allegedly replied to a thread post about ICE Agent Jonathan Ross, who was exonerated for the fatal shooting of Renee Good, stating, “He can’t escape a bullet. It’s coming soon. Just wait.;)”
“I would have beat that agents (sic) a** and put a bullet in his brain,” Petersen also allegedly said.
‘I have a bullet with your name on it’
The feds said Petersen kept posting. In another one of the posts cited in the complaint, Petersen is accused of telling others, “You people need to start shooting them.” Other statements allegedly also included, “The best thing to do is to shoot these officers in the face,” and “I have a bullet with your name on it.”
On June 14, 2026, “dark_fortress_pictures_llc” allegedly replied to a thread post about an FBI agent harassing a protester from Delaney Hall in Newark, stating, “Just shoot them,” and “Yep. I plan on shooting them if I see it with my own eyes.”
On July 2, 2026, “dark_fortress_pictures_llc” allegedly replied to a thread post about ICE in Michigan, stating, “Wait till they start (sic) get run over by people who’ve had enough of their bullsh*t.”
On July 4, 2026, “dark_fortress_pictures_llc,” according to the feds, replied to another post about ICE storming a lobby of a country club in Illinois, saying, “This is why we need to start shoot (sic) ICE.”
Then, on July 6, 2026, the feds said the account associated with Petersen replied to a post about Tom Homan, identified as “the border czar for the Trump Administration,” stating, “I’m ready to see Homan get a bullet to the head.”
HSI agents said the posts amount to “true threats,” and said Petersen threatened federal officers “with the intent to impede, intimidate, or interfere with officers” while engaged in “the performance of their official duties or with the intent to retaliate” because of their work.
Petersen was temporarily detained. He is scheduled for a detention hearing the afternoon of July 17, 2026, in Detroit.