Federal authorities say a man wanted in connection with the shooting of an U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent in Gary, Indiana is in custody.
The U.S. Justice Department announced that 25-year-old Bernard Graham of Calumet City, Illinois surrendered Saturday afternoon.
Investigators say three men ambushed federal agents on Thursday during an illegal weapons investigation in Gary, Indiana, just southeast of Chicago.
The U.S. Justice Department announced that 25-year-old Bernard Graham (L) was in custody along with an his alleged accomplice, 19-year-old Blake King (R)
Investigators say three men ambushed federal agents on Thursday during an illegal weapons investigation in Gary, Indiana, just southeast of Chicago
A Chicago-based ATF agent was shot and critically wounded.
Chicago ATF Special Agent in Charge Celinez Nunez says the agent is expected to make a full recovery.
Graham and 19-year-old Blake King have been charged with assaulting a federal officer and carrying and discharging a firearm in the furtherance of a crime.
Twenty-eight-year-old Raymon Truitt of Gary was shot to death during the incident.
The federal agency was offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to Grahm’s capture, according to ABC News.
The federal agency was offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to Grahm’s capture
Federal law enforcement said on Saturday that the operation began when Leondrey Smith, 29, met with a number of undercover ATF agents who expressed interest in buying illicit firearms.
Chicago ATF Special Agent in Charge Celinez (pictured) Nunez says the agent who was shot is expected to make a full recovery
U.S. Attorney Thomas Kirsch said that Smith introduced the agents to Truitt, who allegedly demanded money in exchange for the weapons.
That’s when an ATF informant retrieved the money from undercover agents waiting outside the unidentified meeting venue.
The deal was made after King gave the informant a bag he said contained firearms in exchange for the cash.
But when the informant opened the bag, he discovered it was filled with pots and pans.
It was at that point King allegedly lifted the informant’s shirt over his head and Truitt and Graham began to fire at two of the undercover agents, hitting one in the chest and arm, according to Kirsch.
Truitt was killed in the ensuing gunfire. Smith was being held in federal custody but charges have yet to be filed against him, ABC News reported.