Two Charged In Shooting Of ATF Agent

HAMMOND – Blake King, age 19, of Chicago and Bernard Graham, age 25, of Calumet City were charged today by criminal complaint, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.

Both were charged by criminal complaint with the following charges:

• Forcibly assaulting, opposing, impeding, intimidating and interfering with Special Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives while they were engaged in the performance of their official duties, by use of deadly and dangerous weapons and infliction of bodily injury, and
• Using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to, and possessing in furtherance of a crime of violence, a firearm that was discharged.

According to documents in this case, during an undercover operation with ATF in the City of Gary, the individuals identified in this press release fired upon ATF Special Agents.   

U.S. Attorney Kirsch stated, “Gun violence doesn’t stop at the state line and neither do government investigations.  We will continue to coordinate with law enforcement and prosecutors in this jurisdiction and others including Northern Illinois to defeat these criminals. We will never tolerate gun violence and never stop doing all we can to defeat it.”

The United States Attorney's Office emphasized that a Complaint is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty in court.

If convicted in court, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

This case is being investigated by the ATF. Other agencies that assisted with the investigation were the FBI; DEA; Homeland Security Investigations; US Marshal’s Service; Indiana State Police; Gary Police Department; Hammond Police Department; East Chicago Police Department; Merrillville Police Department; Purdue University NW Police Department; Lake County Sheriff’s Office; Lake County Prosecutor’s Office and Indiana HIDTA.  This case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Mahoney and Nicholas Padilla.

###