New federal operation prosecuting gun crimes aims to protect Nashville community [Video]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – A new operation is trying to crack down on gun violence in Middle Tennessee by also arresting people on federal charges.

Federal prosecutors and the FBI are working with local and state law enforcement to target repeat offenders of violent crimes.

Acting U.S. Attorney Thomas Jaworski said “Operation Bond Watch” is focused on keeping people who are out on bond awaiting trial from possessing a gun and possibly harming the community with it.

Jaworski said he started looking into the problem earlier this year after seeing WSMV’s reports on repeat offenders committing violent crimes, including the Easter brunch mass shooting in Salemtown and the attempted kidnapping of a MLK Magnet School student.

Metro Police Chief John Drake, at the time, told WSMV that around 16 percent of people arrested for violent crimes in Nashville are rearrested while on bail.

Under this new initiative, Jaworski’s office is going to start looking for people arrested while illegally …