Men arrested after posting video pointing guns at Detroit police linked to nonfatal shooting

What we know:

DETROIT (FOX 2) - Detroit police have arrested two men who posted a video on social media showing both of them pointing firearms at a cruiser while out on the road.

Calling the incident "disturbing," assistant chief Charles Fitzgerald said the video, which was posted on Instagram, helped them identify both men and recover multiple firearms.

"You want to play stupid games, you win stupid prizes, but you brought us to you by posting this," he said Tuesday.

Both suspects are 19 years old.

Fitzgerald, who has worked with the department for more than 30 years, credited those working in DPD's real-time crime center with helping secure the arrest.

Screenshot of a video showing a suspect pointing a firearm at a Detroit Police cruiser

Dig deeper:

The social media post didn't just lead to an arrest, but a break in a separate case as well.

Charles Fitzgerald said the two suspects in this case were also involved in a nonfatal shooting in 2024. 

Police that executed a search warrant at the suspect's home on Tuesday found clothing that both were wearing during the shooting.

"We were working that a long time," Fitzgerald said. "Wasn't until this video (that) we could connect the two."

A third individual was also taken into custody, but was later released without charges being announced. Fitzgerald expects more information on that case in the future.