Two Mobile, Alabama, men are facing federal charges after they allegedly threatened a police officer on an Instagram livestream, WALA reported Wednesday.
Justin Leeland Gormon and Jamarcus Jahleel Manuel allegedly made threatening comments directed towards police officer Michael McGuire on an Instagram livestream where the officer was filmed conducting a traffic stop, according to an indictment obtained by WALA.
Commenting on the livestream, Gormon allegedly typed “Imm smoke mike when I catch em” while Manuel allegedly added “We got some for Mike” and “Justin wya we finna find mike,” the outlet reported.
Filming the livestream was one of three individuals involved in the stop, Milton “Milt-Milt” Carter. Carter along with Gormon and Manuel are reportedly associated with a gang known as the Purple Babies, according to an FBI agent’s affidavit obtained by WALA.
Mobile men charged in federal court with threatening cop during Instagram livestream https://t.co/Oj8SsZm5AF
— FOX10News | WALA (@FOX10News) June 7, 2023
Gormon allegedly posted photos of guns on social media while Manuel allegedly made an Instagram post with a Tommy Gun, according to WALA.
“From Gorman’s recently posted photos, I believe that Gorman had ready access to firearms and could have used those firearms to injure or kill Officer McGuire,” the FBI agent wrote in the affidavit obtained by WALA.
A criminal complaint remained inconclusive as to whether Gormon or Manuel made explicit attempts to track down McGuire, the outlet reported. (RELATED: Rapper Lil Tjay Struggles With Police, Arrested While On Livestream)
Gormon and Manuel now face a federal indictment related to the “charges of making interstate communication of a threat to injure.” The pair, who pleaded not guilty, could receive five-year prison sentences if convicted, WALA reported.