A “mannequin challenge” is a new form of video entertainment in which participants arrange themselves according to a script in frozen poses as the camera rolls. The resulting video is them uploaded to social media sites in the hopes it will entertain and go “viral”—reaching a wide audience.
A shootout-themed mannequin challenge video filmed in Huntsville, AL, went viral, according to Townhall.com, amassing over four million views on Facebook. The video shows a group of about 22 men wielding a variety of firearms in a frozen pose imitating a shootout. There’s just one problem: at least two people in the video are felons and cannot legally own firearms, and, oh yes, there was also a bunch of drugs at the house.
After the video went viral, police investigated—armed with a warrant—and found not all of the guns were permitted and legal.
According to the Washington Post, Capt. Mike Salomonsky said in a news conference. “The Madison County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team, the City of Huntsville Police Department SWAT team, and also ATF were present when we executed the search warrant at that residence.”
Police confiscated two handguns, one “assault rifle” and a single-barrel shotgun, a tactical vest and many rounds of ammunition and multiple magazines to boot, Salomonsky said.
Along with that, they found several bags of marijuana, packed for resale, and a grinder, which is used to grind the plant’s thick buds into a powdery substance for individual consumption.
Two men were arrested and now face drug and firearm charges.
Identification of others who participated in the video are pending to see if any others were prohibited from owning guns.
