INDIANAPOLIS — Youth violence is on the rise across central Indiana, and more teens are found with guns. The Indiana Crime Guns Task Force said at a news conference Tuesday that their focus this upcoming year is finding out where juveniles are getting them.
Law enforcement said they look out for "straw purchasers," or people who buy guns legally and sell them to juveniles or convicted felons.
"That will be a priority for the task force and some of our other units as we go into 2024, is looking at way to hold those individuals more accountable," IMPD Assistant Chief Chris Bailey said.
The ATF said 10% of firearms that are purchased legally in Indianapolis are then used in a crime within 90 days.
"A year or less to us is a strong indicator that they've been straw-purchased — 90 days or less is almost assuredly straw purchased. Probably more than 90% probability," said Special Agent in Charge Daryl McCormick, with ATF's Columbus Division. "That number, when you look at the number of firearms recovered in Indianapolis, is large."
Just last week, IMPD said an adult attempted to sell a 16-year-old a gun. The teen allegedly stole the gun and sped off on Lafayette Road. Police said after an exchange of gunfire with the attempted seller, two other teens in the 16-year-old's car were wounded.
"Let's make this very clear: If you go to a gun store and you buy a firearm for someone who's prohibited and provide that to them, then that's illegal," McCormick said. "That's a federal crime with a penalty up to 15 years in prison."
The ATF said the Crime Guns Task Force started tracing guns used in violent crimes back to the registered owner if it's used in a crime within 90 days of its purchase.
"It’s a challenge for us, and we ask the public to understand we’re not trying to harass any lawful gun owners," McCormick said. "We’re trying to isolate those who are doing that illegal activity from those who are lawful, responsible gun owners."
Since its inception in July 2021, police said the Crime Guns Task Force has recovered 885 illegal firearms and made 775 arrests. This year, they seized 336 illegal guns and made 264 arrests.
"Why are these arrests important? Because no one becomes a target of this task force unless they or the weapon they possess have been used at least twice in firearms incidents against our neighbors," Bailey said. "These are violent individuals, and they make themselves known to us by their behavior. These aren’t random targets."
The task force is made up of several federal agencies, state police and law enforcement in Marion, Boone, Hendricks and Hamilton counties. Fishers Police Chief Ed Gebhart said the Crime Guns Task Force has taken 406 illegal guns off his city's streets.
“Criminals don’t know borders, so why do we have to abide by them ourselves? Let’s come together in a greater partnership like we are, add in and get after these guns so we can lock these criminals up, so we can have safer communities all around the Indianapolis area," Gebhart said.