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Guns Flowing into Chicago from Indiana, Feds Launch Strike Forces

The flow of guns from Indiana into Chicago has become a major concern for law enforcement, with a significant number of firearms recovered in the city originating from outside Chicago, many from Indiana.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the launch of five cross-jurisdictional strike forces to disrupt illegal firearms trafficking in key regions across the country, including the Chicago area.

The strike forces will be led by designated U.S. Attorneys, who will collaborate with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and with state and local law enforcement partners within their own jurisdiction as well as law enforcement partners in areas where illegally trafficked guns originate.

“All too often, guns found at crime scenes come from hundreds or even thousands of miles away. We are redoubling our efforts as ATF works with law enforcement to track the movement of illegal firearms used in violent crimes. These strike forces enable sustained coordination across multiple jurisdictions to help disrupt the worst gun trafficking corridors,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.

The new strike force will help ensure sustained and focused coordination between law enforcement and prosecutors in Chicago with their counterparts in Indiana, where a significant number of firearms recovered in Chicago originate.

“Firearms in the hands of criminals puts every law-abiding citizen at risk,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Childress. “We will do everything we can to protect the people of the Southern District of Indiana and to prosecute those who threaten their safety.”

The strike forces represent one important, concrete step in implementing the Comprehensive Violent Crime Reduction Strategy, which was announced on May 26, 2021. The comprehensive strategy supports local communities in preventing, investigating, and prosecuting gun violence and other violent crime—and requires U.S. Attorneys’ offices to work with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement, as well as the communities they serve, to address the most significant drivers of violence in their districts.

The U.S. Attorney General noted that the strike forces will use the latest data, evidence, and intelligence from crime scenes to identify patterns, leads, and potential suspects in violent gun crimes. “We will use all of our tools – enforcement, prevention, intervention, and investment – to help ensure the safety of our communities – the department’s highest priority,” he said.