Hundreds arrested, 5 missing children found
during U.S. Marshals’ operation targeting
metro gang activities

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK  –  An operation led by the U.S. Marshals Service targeting gang activities in the Oklahoma City metro resulted in 262 arrests, the discovery of five missing and endangered children and the seizure of firearms and narcotics.

According to the U.S. Marshals, the 60-day “Operation Triple Beam,” which concluded on Sept. 6, targeted violent fugitives and criminal offenders who committed high-profile crimes, such as homicide, felony assault and sexual assault, illegal possession of firearms, illegal drug distribution, robbery and arson.

Officials said among the people arrested, 141 were confirmed gang members.

The U.S. Marshals Service Metro Fugitive Task Force also safely located a total of five missing children during the operation, officials said.

Law enforcement officers seized 72 firearms, more than nine kilograms of narcotics and nearly $17,000 in currency, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

The operation was conducted in partnership with multiple local law enforcement agencies, including Oklahoma City police, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office, Shawnee and Yukon police, Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office, Oklahoma Department of Corrections and more.

According to authorities, a suspect in a homicide that occurred in California was taken into custody in the Oklahoma City area.  Four detectives with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office traveled to Oklahoma City to continue their homicide investigation.  They interviewed the suspect and witnesses, and served search warrants in Oklahoma City.

One of the detectives became ill shortly after he returned home.  He had contracted COVID-19 and died after spending a few weeks in the hospital, Johnny L. Kuhlman, U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Oklahoma, said during the news conference.  The detective was laid to rest Wednesday.