LOS ANGELES — A video posted online that shows someone flash a gun while filming a police officer is an attempt at publicity from an old hip-hop group looking to find new relevance, but it has still led to an investigation and at least one arrest, Los Angeles police said Tuesday.
The video posted to Instagram and widely circulated on Twitter was first treated as a threat by high-level detectives at the LAPD when the department became aware of it Thursday. But the department said in a statement that it has determined the purpose was entertainment.
“The investigation revealed that the film was made by members of an early 1990s rap group no longer in fashion,” the statement said, and was “posted on social media to ignite a comeback.”
Police have not released the name of the group or the names of the suspects.
The brief, soundless video is shot from inside a car that is parked behind a police cruiser. It shows the police car, then moves to the person’s lap and shows the gun, which the person then hides under a bag or piece of clothing. It then moves back to the police car, where it shows a uniformed officer get out and walk away. It’s not clear when it was shot.
Detectives identified the vehicle and the three suspects who were inside, police said.
Chief Charlie Beck said at a police commission meeting that a secondary suspect had been arrested and a primary suspect was negotiating to surrender.
One of the three men had a previous weapons conviction, the police statement said. An arrest warrant for carrying a firearm in a vehicle with a prior felony and a search warrant were served for him Tuesday morning, police said.
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