By Ann Zaniewski
Detroit Free Press
DETROIT — A man was sentenced to 15 months in prison Friday for threatening on Facebook to blow up the funeral of a slain Detroit police sergeant.
Deshawn Maurice Lanton, 21, of Detroit, pleaded guilty to conveying false information and hoaxes, according to the office of Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel L. Lemisch.
Lanton posted the threat on a livestream video of Sgt. Kenneth Steil’s September funeral that was on the Facebook page of WXYZ (Channel 7), authorities said.
“During the funeral procession at St. Joan of Arc Church in St. Clair Shores, Lanton wrote ‘Maybe I should drop a bomb on that building to get rid of the rest of y’all’ on the Facebook live page as hundreds of officers marched into the church to pay their respects to the fallen officer,” reads a press release from Lemisch’s office.
Other Facebook viewers saw the post and contacted police, authorities said.
Lemisch’s office said Lanton has several prior felony convictions, including for violent crimes and theft.
According to court records, authorities discovered during the investigation that Lanton posted multiple videos on his Facebook page of police officers getting injured. He then commented that he was pleased they were injured.
The FBI and the Detroit Police Department investigated the case.
Steil was shot Sept. 12 during a manhunt for a suspect in Detroit. He died five days later.
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