Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Lawyers for Tyler Robinson, accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, challenge ballistics and DNA evidence in a Utah preliminary hearing. Prosecutors argue the shooting endangered others and was politically motivated, with Kirk being an ally of President Donald Trump and credited with galvanizing young voters for the Republican in the 2024 election.

Lawyers for Tyler Robinson, accused of killing Charlie Kirk, are challenging the reliability of ballistics and DNA evidence in a Utah preliminary hearing. Prosecutors argue the shooting was politically motivated and could carry the death penalty, citing Robinson's post-shooting statements and a roommate's testimony.

Lawyers for Tyler Robinson, accused of killing Charlie Kirk, are challenging the reliability of ballistics and DNA evidence in a Utah preliminary hearing. Prosecutors argue the case involves aggravated murder due to endangering others and political motives, while the defense aims to cast doubt on the evidence before a judge's decision on trial eligibility.

Lawyers for Tyler Robinson, accused of killing Charlie Kirk, challenge the reliability of ballistics and DNA evidence in a Utah preliminary hearing. Prosecutors argue the case involves aggravated murder with potential death penalty implications due to the political context and threat to others at the event.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives seized 140 firearms, including two .50-caliber rifles and a machine gun, from a Lincoln County home. Authorities allege the weapons were intended for smuggling to the Sinaloa cartel in Mexico. The operation also uncovered evidence of human trafficking, with ATF highlighting the seizure as a victory for border safety.

A 34-year-old Chicago man, Malik Wrightsell, was charged with attempted murder and aggravated battery against two police officers following a July 3 shooting. During a traffic stop, Wrightsell fled, leading to a pursuit where he fired a gun, injuring one officer protected by a vest and another in the arm. Both officers were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, while Wrightsell was critically injured and arrested.

The FBI announced 305 arrests and the recovery of 24 missing children in Chicago during Operation New Dawn, a 60-day cross-agency effort involving 11 federal agencies. The operation targeted crimes including robbery, kidnapping, drug trafficking, and child exploitation, with agencies collaborating under the U.S. flag rather than individual agency banners.

The Justice Department announced 300 fugitive arrests and over 175 charges against individuals accused of violent crimes in a two-month federal operation called 'Operation New Dawn' in the Chicago area. The effort involved 11 federal agencies, including the FBI, ATF, and DEA, and targeted offenses such as murder, kidnapping, and drug trafficking.

Federal authorities dismantled a firearms trafficking ring that prosecutors allege funneled dozens of guns from Georgia to Chicago gangs, with some weapons linked to violent crimes including a juvenile murder. Five individuals, including Anthony Edmond and Rafael Enriquez, were charged in a 23-count indictment for conspiracy involving firearms trafficking, machineguns, and drug trafficking.

A man is facing a federal weapon charge after being found in possession of an AR-style rifle linked to a Detroit shooting that killed one person and injured a child. The investigation revealed the rifle's connection to the crime scene through matching shell casings, and another individual was charged with firearm possession and threatening the victims.

Hundreds of pounds of fireworks exploded in Lagoon Point, Western Washington, destroying homes and injuring five people, including three firefighters. The fire was likely caused by someone smoking near stored fireworks. A neighbor lost her home but saved her pets, and agencies including the fire department and ATF are investigating.

Robert Simms, a 36-year-old Rockville man, was sentenced to 25 years in prison after setting a fire in an occupied Montgomery Village apartment in 2025, trapping four people inside. He pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder and three counts of reckless endangerment, with evidence including gasoline found at the scene and surveillance footage showing him carrying a red gasoline container.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) canceled a contract with Penlink for ad-tech-based geolocation data after a congressional inquiry revealed over 340 searches using the tool. The pilot project, which provided location data through ad-surveillance technologies, was deemed ineffective. Sen. Ron Wyden praised the cancellation but urged Congress to pass legislation to regulate such practices.

The death penalty remains a sentencing option for Tyler Robinson in the murder case of Charlie Kirk at a Turning Point USA rally. A Utah prosecutor, Christopher Ballard, faces civil contempt for media statements, but a judge ruled the death penalty should stay, rejecting the defense's challenge to remove it.

Two teenagers were arrested and a third faces juvenile petitions after being linked to two smash-and-grab burglaries at Murfreesboro businesses, resulting in the theft of dozens of firearms. Investigators used automatic license plate reader technology and collaboration with multiple law enforcement agencies to identify the suspects.

The ATF canceled a contract for the surveillance tool Webloc after lawmakers and others raised concerns about its legality in criminal investigations. The tool, which uses commercial location data, faced criticism for bypassing warrant requirements, and the ATF stated it no longer meets their needs.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives canceled its contract for Webloc, a surveillance tool using commercial location data for warrantless tracking, after concerns from Rep. Michael Cloud, Sen. Ron Wyden, and legal experts. The tool, made by Penlink, was used by various agencies but is now discontinued by ATF, with Wyden calling it a victory for constitutional rights.

A man was fatally shot and a 7-year-old child was critically injured in a Detroit shooting on Wednesday night. Police found the child alone near Burgess and Eaton Avenue, with no 911 calls reported, and are searching for the child's family. The investigation involves the Detroit homicide unit and multiple federal agencies.

A 7-year-old boy named Jacquise was critically injured after being shot multiple times in Detroit’s west side, while a man was killed nearby. Police responded to ShotSpotter alerts and found the child and deceased man several houses apart; the investigation remains ongoing with no suspect identified.

Khaleel Smith was arrested by U.S. Marshals and ATF in Nashville for an aggravated domestic assault in Lebanon, where he allegedly fired shots from a hotel, damaging a vehicle and a Taco Bell. The Lebanon Police Department praised federal agencies for their assistance in the arrest.

Khaleel Smith was arrested in Nashville by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives following a case involving an aggravated domestic assault and hotel shooting.

Law enforcement agencies in Catawba County seized fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, weapons, and cash during a drug raid in Hickory. Malik Nahjeen Maynard was arrested and charged with drug trafficking and possession offenses related to the seizure.

New York is considering a law requiring 3D printers sold for home and business use to include technology blocking gun production, aiming to combat 'ghost guns' used in crimes. Similar measures are under review in California, with concerns about the technology's effectiveness and privacy rights. Privately made firearms recovered in crimes have risen sharply, including a 3D-printed gun linked to a 2024 UnitedHealthcare CEO killing.

Four individuals were charged after attempting to rob undercover ATF agents during a firearm trafficking investigation in Country Club Hills. Two suspects were shot and hospitalized, while a third fled in a vehicle that collided with an ATF car, and another assaulted a police officer during pursuit.

A fire at a Medline-owned medical equipment warehouse in Tracy, California, was exacerbated by non-functional sprinklers and hydrants, leading to the building's destruction and nearby fires. No injuries were reported, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will investigate the blaze's cause.

An ATF agent testified that Jonathan Rinderknecht was experiencing significant anxiety and anger issues when he allegedly caused a fire in 2025, which later reignited as the destructive and deadly Palisades blaze.

States like Connecticut are enacting laws to ban the sale of pistols that can be easily converted into machine guns, addressing the rise in violent crimes involving such weapons. The new laws aim to pressure manufacturers to redesign firearms to prevent modifications, following a surge in recovered machine gun conversion devices like Glock switches.

Chicago's Civilian Office of Police Accountability is investigating a police officer shooting in Country Club Hills. FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents were present at the scene, where a woman was later handcuffed and handed over to local police, though details remain unclear.

A white male was killed by an explosion in a vehicle on the Eisenhower Expressway in Hillside on June 4, 2026, leading to a nine-hour road closure. Federal agencies including the FBI and ATF investigated, finding no evidence of connections to other events or additional individuals involved.

The Trump administration is rolling back firearm regulations, including allowing mail shipment of handguns, weakening background check rules, and making it harder to revoke gun dealer licenses. Critics argue these changes reduce federal oversight and increase public safety risks, while the ATF claims they ease burdens on gun owners.

Traffic on I-290 in the western suburbs was severely backed up as police and bomb technicians investigated an 'active incident' involving a vehicle near Mannheim in Westchester. The expressway was closed in both directions, with extended closures expected and drivers advised to avoid the area.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) under the Trump administration proposed repealing a Biden-era rule aimed at distinguishing private gun sellers from unlicensed dealers. A Trace analysis found the rule had little impact on federal prosecutions, and the ATF’s general counsel argued the repeal would not weaken enforcement against traffickers.

The Trump administration, led by newly confirmed ATF Director Robert Cekada, repealed a Biden-era rule targeting the 'gun show loophole' by removing requirements for certain private sellers to obtain licenses and conduct background checks. Experts and a review by The Trace indicate the repealed rule had minimal impact on enforcement and did not lead to significant federal prosecutions.

The Biden administration implemented a zero-tolerance policy against gun trafficking in 2021, leading to increased dealer license revocations and a drop in homicide rates. Donald Trump's 2024 re-election reversed these measures, with his administration rolling back enforcement. Marianna Mitchem, an ATF official, highlighted the progress made under Biden before the policy shift.

Range USA, a gun store and shooting range chain, has been cited for repeated violations despite efforts to set itself apart from traditional retailers. A gun purchased at one of its stores was used to kill a Chicago police officer. The company has faced multiple compliance failures and license revocation recommendations.

A New Jersey man, Anthony J. Rhodes, was arrested for sparking a fire in a Maryland Walmart using camping fuel and fireworks as a diversion to steal nearly $10,000 worth of jewelry. The incident caused $10 million in lost inventory due to smoke and cleanup. Rhodes is currently awaiting extradition to Maryland.

FBI Director Kash Patel and other law enforcement officials testify at a Senate hearing. The hearing is held by the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee. They represent various agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

A Utah judge unsealed an ATF ballistics report in the case against Tyler Robinson, accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk. The report could not conclusively link a bullet fragment to the suspected murder weapon but confirmed a match with the spent casing. DNA evidence on the gun and other items supports the prosecution's case, while experts suggest the bullet's deformation may explain the inconclusive findings.