MUSKEGON, Mich. -- A video he posted on a social media platform has led to a Muskegon man's conviction in a shooting case.

Prosecutors say a federal jury convicted Malik Jones-Smith of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Michigan notified WOOD Radio in an email that the 30-year-old fled from a Muskegon police officer in a van on Dec. 28, 2024, following the shooting. He and another man stopped, got out and ran. Police said they later found a stolen pistol loaded with a round partially in the chamber and another one in the gun's magazine.

Investigators said a search of Jones-Smith’s cell phone showed that he uploaded a video on Snapchat less than 10 hours before with the same firearm.

Here are more details from the news release:

The search of his phone also showed that Jones-Smith and his passenger in the van were involved in the Muskegon Heights shooting. At the time of the offense, Jones-Smith was on federal supervised release for a prior conviction of distributing fentanyl. Jones-Smith was released from federal custody only 16 days before he possessed the firearm.

“Gun violence destroys communities,” stated United States Attorney Timothy VerHey. “My office remains committed to prosecuting individuals who illegally possess firearms and threaten public safety.”

“The Muskegon Police Department is committed to ensuring that everyone can live without the threat of gun violence. This conviction through the collaboration with the United States Attorney’s office in conjunction with the FBI and ATF strengthens that commitment,” said Muskegon Police Chief Tim Kozal.

"This conviction reinforces FBI Detroit’s commitment to stopping habitual violent offenders, such as Malik Jones-Smith, from inflicting further harm on our Michigan communities,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “I want to thank the FBI Grand Rapids Resident Agency, Muskegon Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Muskegon Major Case Initiative (MMCI), which includes the Michigan State Police and the Muskegon Heights Police Department. These agencies played a critical role in removing this dangerous, convicted felon from our streets. I am also grateful for the work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan in securing this successful prosecution.”

Jones-Smith is scheduled to be sentenced on March 10, 2026, and faces up to 18 years in federal prison for the new conviction and for his supervised release violations.

The Muskegon Police Department - Muskegon Major Crimes Initiative Unit, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vito S. Solitro and Clay Stiffler prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

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West Michigan's Morning News