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New task force tackles illegal guns entering D.C. from Virginia


(Photo: ABC7)
(Photo: ABC7)
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Heleana Colson shared her pain with council members on Thursday morning.

“My son was 25 and he had his whole life ahead of him,” said Colson.

Colson was shot and killed on August 14th in Southeast.

“They executed my son,” she said. “I came here today to plea with you guys, we need your help. So it could be safe for my kids.”

She’s begging city officials to figure out a plan to keep streets safe from gun violence.

“We have an issue, we have a lot of firearms going from Virginia into the District of Columbia,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary Terwilliger.

Terwilliger is the 62nd United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA).

He’s working with a new task force, known as the Project safe neighborhoods Initiative, to address the growing problem.

The number of illegal firearms, coming from Virginia, increased from 538 in 2017 to 599 in 2018; according to Councilmember Charles Allen.

“Anytime you have guns, especially illegal guns on the street, that’s going to contribute to violence,” said Terwilliger.

Assistant Chief Robert Contee says straw purchases are part of the problem.

“Cases where individuals, basically....using women, who may have a Virginia address to purchase a firearm,” Contee said.

Last month, police arrested Darius Giles in their latest bust.

He’s accused of buying 45 guns in Virginia and then illegally selling them to Maryland and D.C. residents.

“What I would say to the residents of D.C. is look, we all have to take ownership of this problem,” Terwilliger said. “I know that if we can stomp out firearm trafficking, we can save lives.”

NOTE: To view the hearing from the Committee on the Judiciary & Public Safety, Public Hearing, click here.

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