AG Barr launches Operation Legend, federal crackdown on violent crime in U.S. cities

Attorney General William Barr on Wednesday announced the launch of Operation Legend, an effort to crack down on spiking crime in American cities like Kansas City, where four-year-old LeGend Taliferro was fatally shot in his bed last month.

Federal law enforcement agencies will work with state and local law enforcement to help tackle crime in U.S. cities.

“President Trump has made clear: The federal government stands ready and willing to assist any of our state and local law enforcement partners across the nation responding to violent crime. Operation Legend will combine federal and local resources to combat the disturbing uptick in violence by surging federal agents and other federal assets into cities like Kansas City, a city currently experiencing its worst homicide rate in its history,” Barr said in a statement included in a Department of Justice press release.

“The Department’s Operation Legend is named in honor of one of Kansas City’s youngest victims, four-year old LeGend Taliferro who was shot in the face while sleeping in his bed. LeGend’s death is a horrifying reminder that violent crime left unchecked is a threat to us all and cannot be allowed to continue,” Barr said.

At Barr's direction, agents from the FBI, DEA, ATF and U.S. Marshal Service will provide assistance to state and local officials in order to combat crime in Kansas City.

"As part of Operation Legend, Attorney General Barr directed federal agents from the FBI, U.S. Marshal Service, DEA and ATF to surge resources to Kansas City in the coming weeks to help state and local officials fight the surge of violent crime. They will be working alongside state and local law enforcement agencies. Department of Justice assets will include over 100 FBI agents, U.S. Marshals, DEA agents, and ATF agents," according to the press release.