A Melvindale man is facing federal charges after prosecutors alleged he spent months posting online threats encouraging people to kill Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and other law enforcement officers, including posts advocating shootings, grenade attacks and threats against a specific ICE agent.
Michael Gary Petersen, 41, was arrested July 16 and charged in federal court in Detroit with threatening to assault or murder a federal law enforcement officer and transmitting threats through interstate communications, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. If convicted on both counts, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
Federal prosecutors allege Petersen used Facebook, Threads and TikTok between January and July to threaten ICE agents repeatedly, other law enforcement officers and social media users who disagreed with his views.
According to the criminal complaint, Petersen allegedly encouraged followers to shoot law enforcement officers “in the face” and wrote, “Never trust officers. Death to them all.” Prosecutors also allege he warned readers, “Wait till we start throwing grenades and start shooting armor-piercing rounds at these agents.”
‘All bets are off:’ Feds say Melvindale man threatened to shoot ICE agents
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… pic.twitter.com/dZGiwSYoM3
— Erika Erickson (@ErikaEricksontv) July 17, 2026
The investigation began in January after Homeland Security Investigations received information from the FBI about public social media posts allegedly threatening ICE employees. Investigators linked the social media accounts to Petersen and alleged they were associated with Dark Fortress Pictures LLC, a Melvindale-based production company.
According to the complaint, investigators executed a search warrant at Petersen’s home on Jan. 16. When he later retrieved property seized during the search, Homeland Security Investigations agents told him he had the right to express his opinions but warned that threatening to kill law enforcement officers crossed a legal line. Court records allege Petersen thanked investigators for the warning.
Prosecutors allege the threats continued after that meeting.
Among the posts cited in the complaint was a June 7 response about the ICE agent involved in the fatal shooting of Renee Good, in which Petersen allegedly wrote, “He can’t escape a bullet. It’s coming soon. Just wait. ;).” In another exchange, prosecutors allege Petersen responded to a social media user, “I have a bullet with your name on it.”
Other posts cited in the complaint allegedly urged people to “start shooting” ICE officers and said Petersen was prepared to shoot agents if he encountered them.
Prosecutors also allege he posted that he was ready to see White House border czar Tom Homan “get a bullet to the head.”
U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr. said threats against law enforcement officers undermine the rule of law.
“Threats against law enforcement are an attack on the rule of law. These brave Americans protect us. And we will do our part to protect them,” Gorgon said.
Homeland Security Investigations Detroit Acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey said investigators take violent threats against officers seriously.
“Disagreement with laws is one thing but the allegations here involve threatening to shoot officers in the face and throw explosive devices,” Murphey said. “We take these types of threats extremely seriously and HSI special agents will vigorously investigate these cases and bring them to justice.”
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Detroit Acting Field Office Director Matthew Putra said ICE personnel should not face threats for enforcing federal immigration law.
“The men and women of ICE are enforcing the immigration laws of the land as passed by Congress,” Putra said. “For them to be allegedly targeted for simply doing their duty according to federal law is unconscionable.”
A criminal complaint is only a charging document, and Petersen is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
