ATF-led violent crime enforcement surge begins in St. Louis

ST. LOUIS - A coordinated, DOJ-sponsored law enforcement surge focused on violent crime began this week in St. Louis. ATF is leading the whole-of-government effort to address violent crime in close coordination with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Missouri and in partnership with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, and other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

"Every part of this surge is aimed at one outcome: lasting public safety," said Bernard Hansen, special agent in charge of ATF's Kansas City Field Division. "That means holding violent offenders accountable, disrupting the criminal networks that support them, and interrupting the illegal supply of firearms to people who use them to commit violence. We are committed to following the evidence and building strong, prosecutable cases that have an impact beyond a single arrest."

The surge brings additional federal resources and ATF's specialized firearms expertise to support and strengthen work already underway throughout the city. The intelligence-driven effort is focused on the individuals and criminal networks believed to be driving firearm-related violence and shootings, including repeat violent offenders, people prohibited from possessing firearms, and firearms traffickers.

The operation is focused on violent criminal conduct and the illegal supply of firearms to violent offenders. Law-abiding citizens and lawful firearms ownership are not targets of this effort.

"Strong partnerships make stronger neighborhoods. By working alongside our federal partners and bringing additional resources to St. Louis, we can build on the progress already underway and focus those resources where they can make the greatest difference," said St. Louis Metropolitan Police Chief Robert J. Tracy. "This partnership is ultimately about the people we serve-helping families feel safe in their neighborhoods, supporting the officers working to protect them and continuing to build safer, stronger communities across our city."

"Collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement has borne fruit in St. Louis for decades," said U.S. Attorney Thomas C. Albus. "I welcome the additional agents and resources from the ATF during the summer months which usually see elevated levels of violence. My office will support these efforts with special attention to downtown St. Louis and violent crime hot spots. As always, we will work closely with the Circuit Attorney and the Missouri Attorney General to relentlessly fight violent crime in our community."

Agents, officers, analysts, and prosecutors are combining local intelligence with ballistic leads generated through NIBIN, the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, and information developed through crime gun tracing. This coordinated approach can help investigators identify connections among shootings, link firearms to multiple crime scenes, recognize trafficking patterns, and develop leads that might otherwise remain separate across jurisdictions.

NIBIN allows law enforcement agencies to compare ballistic evidence recovered from crime scenes to recovered crime gun test-fires. Crime gun tracing provides investigators with information about a firearm's commercial history, from the manufacturer or importer through its first retail sale. Together with traditional investigative methods, these tools can help law enforcement identify shooters, associates, firearms traffickers, and sources of crime guns.

Because operational activity and related investigations remain ongoing, ATF will not discuss specific targets, tactics, arrests, or seizures at this time. For operational security reasons, ATF also will not disclose the exact number of personnel participating in the surge. ATF will release verified results when that information can be made public without compromising ongoing investigations or judicial proceedings.

ATF protects American communities from violent crime driven by the illegal use of firearms, explosives, and acts of arson. Through crime gun intelligence, forensic analysis, and relentless investigation, we identify and arrest violent offenders and gang members, dismantle trafficking networks, and sever the supply chains arming cartels, prohibited persons, and terrorist organizations. We defend the rights of law-abiding citizens by safeguarding lawful commerce and upholding the Constitution of the United States.

Learn more about what ATF is doing to reduce violent crime in your community by following us on X @ATFHQ, Instagram @ATFHQ, LinkedIn @ATF, and Facebook @HQATF, or on the web at www.atf.gov .