Badlands Media Special Coverage: 10/15/26 - DOJ Operation Show Me Justice Results in St. Louis

The Department of Justice holds a press conference in St. Louis to announce the results of Operation Show Me Justice, an ATF-led surge against violent crime that ends today after two months.

Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter reports 435 arrests, including 412 on outstanding warrants, along with 80 kilos of drugs, 166 illegal firearms, six machine gun conversion devices and over $1 million in currency seized. He credits the ATF, Marshals Service, DEA, FBI, Homeland Security and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, and invites mayors and police chiefs across the country to partner with the department.

Senator Eric Schmitt says more than 500 of the region's most violent criminals are now off the streets. The ATF director announces a new Crime Gun Intelligence Center for St. Louis starting in January 2027, and the Marshals Service director and Police Commissioner Robert Tracy describe how the federal, state and local partnership worked with the community.

In the questions, the officials explain the charges, compare this surge to the D.C. and Memphis task forces, and note homicides down about 50 percent from last year. Schmitt also talks about defense jobs, a new airport and ICE in Missouri.

The full press conference.