Trump says he is sending federal help to quell Chicago violence

President Trump tweeted on Friday he will send federal resources to Chicago in order to quell the city’s violence.

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

Trump’s tweet comes after authorities confirmed to The Chicago-Sun Times reported that Trump had sent 20 agents from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to the city.

Twenty new ATF agents have joined a force of 35 to 40 agents who were already in the city, according to the report. 

{mosads}The agents are collaborating with the Chicago Police Department and the Illinois State Police on a strike force that will work to track down gun traffickers and solve shootings in the city with the help of ballistics technology.

Chicago police said Superintendent Eddie Johnson first met with Attorney General Jeff Sessions in March to discuss the strike force. 

Trump tweeted shortly after taking office in January that if city of Chicago did not fix the “carnage,” he would send in federal forces.

If Chicago doesn’t fix the horrible “carnage” going on, 228 shootings in 2017 with 42 killings (up 24% from 2016), I will send in the Feds!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 25, 2017

There have been 320 murders in Chicago so far this year. In 2016, Chicago experienced 760 killings, making it the deadliest year in the city in 20 years, according to the Times.