TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – “Something has to be done to rattle us enough as a community to say ‘Hey, this is important.’”

What is being done to address issues that contribute to gun violence? Problems like stolen guns and illegal gun sales through straw purchasing are top of mind for many people invested in public safety, like Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell. He said it’s a problem he needs buy-in from the public to fix.

But the department says they are taking other steps to address the problem, too. Officials are investing in ways to solve gun crimes faster.

About a month ago, TPD announced it is now using the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) program.

Using cutting-edge technology, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF)-administered program captures and compares images of ballistic evidence, like shell casings, from shooting scenes and recovered firearms. It also allows law enforcement to quickly find out whether there are connections between incidents and identify potential suspects.

Within a few months of installing the technology, TPD officials said detectives developed more than 65 leads in cases.

“The faster we’re able to turn around the evidence, the faster we’re able to solve crimes,” Revell said.

Gun crimes are the focus of the new WCTV Investigates series, “Tracking the Trigger.”

Earlier this week, the series went in-depth on a wide variety of issues related to gun violence, including stolen guns and a phenomenon called straw purchasing. The reporting highlighted that many of the guns stolen in Tallahassee are taken from unlocked cars.

Those who have experienced gun violence first-hand — like local law enforcement officials and gun safety advocates like Felicia Gilyard — say they want everyone to take this issue seriously.

In the first story published Wednesday, WCTV Investigates explained that Gilyard’s granddaughter, Marlacia Kitchen, died as a result of gun violence. Kitchen, 17, was shot and killed in October 2022 at an apartment complex in Tallahassee’s Southwood neighborhood, her grandmother said.

Revell and other local law enforcement including Jeff Thayer, the Resident Agent in Charge at the ATF’s Tallahassee Field Office, believe technology like NIBIN can play a huge role in that mission.

“NIBIN is a very important tool that the ATF has developed in order to point an arrow or a laser at what might be a problem area,” Thayer said.

Thayer told WCTV Investigates that NIBIN doesn’t necessarily target people, but guns through its shell casings.

He said it’s a revolutionary step for investigations.

“Every time a round is fired out of a firearm, it leaves special marks and indentations on the shell casings that we can link up through a computer, through technology, that can maybe link two shootings together, or two incidents together, that maybe could help provide some leads for our detectives and our investigators,” Thayer explained.

An ATF spokesperson told WCTV Investigates that TPD is NIBIN’s most recent addition to their network.

“We’re always guiding other police departments and sheriff’s offices across Florida,” said Jason Medina, Public Information Officer for ATF’s Tampa Field Division. “Without question, there are significant budgetary, staffing and training investments associated with NIBIN, and the benefit – generating leads by digitally comparing a crime gun’s shell casings to existing databases – is clear and positive.”

Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil said LCSO also uses NIBIN to collaborate with TPD and the ATF to solve more crimes in the area. He said it makes it easier to track what guns are being used across the county.

Revell believes another benefit of NIBIN is cutting down time with investigations. The turnaround for processing some evidence has dropped from multiple weeks to two to three days now that the department has NIBIN in-house, according to the chief.

In addition to seeing how guns move and are used in different crimes, Revell said they’ve been able to connect several cases through NIBIN.

One example is when TPD officer Caleb Babb was shot in the line of duty in September 2023. Babb was seriously injured after responding to an overnight home invasion on Sandpiper Street.

John’Darious Wright and Rahyim Sanders both face an attempted murder charge in connection to this incident. Tyrell Guinnie is charged as an accessory because he’s accused of being the getaway driver. Wright was also charged with a second attempted murder charge in connection to a separate home invasion that happened the same day.

Revell said that NIBIN helped expedite the arrests of all three suspects after Babb’s shooting. Within 24 hours of Babb’s shooting, TPD was able to connect the gun used to injure him to another case.

“Eventually, we were able to solve those cases and arrest all three suspects that were involved in it,” the TPD Chief said.

Revell said that the three suspects in Babb’s case were arrested within three days.

“That would’ve never happened that quick had we not had that technology in place,” Revell said.

There are others who are trying to contribute to gun safety.

Gun seller Charlie Strickland said he is working to prevent gun violence the very second he decides to place a firearm from his store lands in a buyer’s hand.

At his Gadsden County gun shop, he educates his customers on safety and offers lock boxes for cars and homes. He said he wants to curb problems like straw purchasing and guns being stolen from unlocked cars.

TPD and LCSO echo his sentiments. For years, the groups have overseen public awareness campaigns and gun lock giveaways. It’s all because it’s important for gun owners to do their part to prevent more guns from landing at the center of local crimes, Revell said.

“I’m not at the point where I think legislation needs to happen to make gun owners that have their guns stolen legally responsible, but we’re probably getting close. And I don’t want it to get to that point,” the police chief said. “Something has to be done to rattle us enough as a community to say ‘Hey, this is important, and we’re not going to do this anymore.’”

Gilyard is also trying to empower and encourage people living in Tallahassee. She wants them to understand the devastation gun violence causes for those left behind, and she wants the community to care as much as she does about preventing more harm.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook and X (Twitter).

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Write us here. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

Keep up with all the biggest headlines on the WCTV News app. Click here to download it now.

Copyright 2024 WCTV. All rights reserved.