Family of slain agent wants ATF officials to be prosecuted

The family of a slain federal agent told lawmakers on Wednesday they want the officials responsible for overseeing the sale of guns to known and suspected straw purchasers for drug cartels prosecuted.

Two of the weapons found at the scene of an Arizona gun battle last December in which Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Agent Brian Terry was killed were later tracked to straw purchasers who bought the weapons under the supervision of the ATF’s “Fast and Furious” gun-tracking operation. 

{mosads}Tuesday, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) released a report into the ATF’s program. The report found that the operation which aided in the sale of firearms in hopes of tracking the weapons to members of Mexican drug cartels “likely” contributed to Terry’s death.

“We ask that if a government official made a wrong decision that they admit their error and take responsibility for his or her actions,” said Robert Heyer, a cousin of Terry. 

“We hope that all individuals involved in Brian’s murder and those that played a role in putting assault weapons in their hands are found and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”