Garrian King was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, and investigators say his arrest was in connection with the recent Chattanooga shootings, according to a news release by the Department of Justice,
King was arrested on Wednesday June 8 in Chattanooga by officers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Chattanooga Police Department for being a criminal who carried a firearm, the release said. He was in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922.
An initial appearance took place June 8 in the United States District Court in Chattanooga, heard by U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher H. Steger.
The U.S. District Court is presiding over a case involving a firearm charge against a felon.
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“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with all of its law-enforcement partners to protect our community through the vigorous enforcement of federal criminal gun laws," U.S. Attorney Francis Harrington III said. "Yesterday’s charge is the result of the tireless, around-the-clock work by, and collaboration among, the Chattanooga Police Department, the ATF and the FBI, which continues unabated.”
ATF agents brought out their commitment to cracking down on illegal firearms.
"The ATF takes pride in working with our local, state and federal partners to bring justice to individuals who illegally possess firearms and willingly cause harm in the communities that we live in," Special Agent Mickey French said. "These individuals put the lives of everyday citizens at risk, and we will work diligently to mitigate these senseless acts of terror."
FBI agents highlighted the success they had in their collaboration with local law enforcement.
“The FBI values the partnership we have with the Chattanooga Police Department, ATF and the United States Attorney's Office to target offenders who illegally possess firearms in Chattanooga," FBI Agent Joe Carrico said. "Through this ongoing collaboration with local, state and federal law enforcement, we will continue to focus our resources on the most violent and egregious offenders endangering our communities.”
King was detained without bail.
