Trump says he's sending federal help to Chicago to combat violence
President Trump said Friday that he's sending "federal help" to Chicago to deal with the city's spate of gun violence.
He posted the news in a tweet.
Crime and killings in Chicago have reached such epidemic proportions that I am sending in Federal help. 1714 shootings in Chicago this year!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 30, 2017
Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are expected to hold a joint news conference Friday afternoon with officials from Illinois State Police and the Justice Department to "announce a major partnership to target gun violence in Chicago", according to the chief communications officer for Chicago police.
Tomorrow CPD @ATFHQ @ILStatePolice @SAKimFoxx @NDILnews will announce a major partnership to target gun violence in Chicago. 1pm @ Police HQ pic.twitter.com/meKZ48j7GP
— Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) June 29, 2017
The Chicago Sun-Times reports that 20 ATF agents have been sent to Chicago to combat gun violence and are working with the city's police department and state police on a "strike force." Chicago's police department personally asked Attorney General Jeff Sessions for additional resources a few months ago.
CBS News Hannah Fraser-Chanpong and Paula Reid contributed to this report.