With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Viral video that appeared to threaten officers was rap promo, police say
A still from a video that appeared on Instagram was apparently intended as promotion for a rap album, police said.
(
Courtesy NBC4
)
A still from a video that appeared on Instagram was apparently intended as promotion for a rap album, police said.
(
Courtesy NBC4
)
A video that appeared to threaten Los Angeles police officers and had the department on high alert may have been a case of viral marketing gone wrong.
The video, posted to photo-sharing site Instagram, appears to be shot from inside a vehicle parked directly behind a patrol car, according to a statement from the LAPD. A person whose face cannot be seen reveals a gun, and an officer, seen through the windshield, exits the patrol car, unaware someone is recording.
Detectives from the Robbery-Homicide Division became aware of the video Thursday, but an investigation revealed it had been created by what police said were "members of an early 1990s rap group no longer in fashion."
The film was intended to ignite the group's comeback, according to the statement.
Support for LAist comes from
An LAPD spokesperson would not elaborate to KPCC what rap group the statement was referring to.
Police were working in pairs this weekend due to what was seen at the time as a credible threat, and they were still under the impression there was a threat on Saturday night, NBC4 reports, when Van Nuys police shot and killed a suspect after their vehicle's rear window was shattered.
The original post has been deleted, but the video has since been re-posted:
Police say they identified the vehicle and three suspects they said were filming.
One suspect had a prior conviction for carrying a firearm. A warrant was issued for his arrest, and SWAT officers executed a related search warrant in the city of Downey, according to police. LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said that due to the prior conviction, that makes the suspect brandishing a loaded firearm in their vehicle as shown in the video a felony, NBC4 reports.
Police expect the suspect to turn himself in Tuesday afternoon, according to NBC4.
Support for LAist comes from
Amid national protests over police-on-citizen violence and high-profile attacks on police — including one in New York in December that left two officers dead — police have been wary.
While investigators were still looking into the source of the video, the director of L.A.'s police union, Jamie McBride, had this to say, per NBC4:
"It's very troubling to see this kind of activity. Obviously, this person is a coward. I can guarantee you if he does another stupid act like this again, and actually pulls the trigger in front of an LAPD officer, he will be shot."
Police have since determined the video was made "for entertainment purposes only" and did not represent a credible threat to officers.
The criminal investigation remains open, however.
This story has been updated.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
What you should know ahead of bad weather expected to hit Monday, with the worst expected between 5 p.m. through Tuesday afternoon. -
Jet Propulsion Laboratory leadership announces that 11% of the workforce is being cut. -
The rock legend joins LAist for a lookback on his career — and the next chapter of his music. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain. -
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care.
Best of LAist