MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – A Mardi Gras–week Instagram video mocking a dead gang member has led to a federal machine gun case against a man police say is tied to a rival street gang.
According to a newly filed federal complaint, on February 16, 2026, Mobile Police were proactively monitoring the downtown area due to an “elevated threat level” stemming in part from two shootings on Joe Cain Day the night before – including the killing of a well‑known member of the Southend street gang.
Investigators say a short Instagram “story” posted that afternoon showed a man identified as Braedan Thomas lying on his back with his shoes off, surrounded by people laughing. According to the complaint, Thomas is seen in the video handling a black pistol with a red grip in his waistband before stretching out on the ground – behavior agents say was meant to “troll” or mock the gang member’s death and inflame tensions between Southend and a rival gang, known as 2KB or “2K Babies.” The account is believed to be used by a known 2KB affiliate, according to the filing.
A federal agent reviewing the video says he immediately noticed a small black device extending from the backplate of the handgun – what he recognized as a machine gun conversion device, or “Glock switch,” which can turn a semi‑automatic pistol into a machine gun…