The FBI and the Atlanta Police Department have joined forces on a targeted sweep called Operation Lockdown to remove the city’s most violent fugitives from the streets.
Atlanta police investigation
The multi-agency violent crimes task force began executing Operation Lockdown in March. The timing of the sweep coordinates directly with major summer events, including the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Federal agents and local officers are pooling their investigative resources, conducting surveillance, identifying target locations and serving warrants to capture dangerous felons before global visitors arrive.
Federal fugitive tracking
Investigators initially identified 37 dangerous felons at the start of the joint operation. Officers have captured 13 of those targeted individuals so far. Four of them are homicide suspects. Although the initial list contained 37 names, federal authorities stated that more offenders will likely be added as the operation continues over the next month.
Dangerous felons captured
“Our violent crimes task force assists the Atlanta Police Department in identifying locations, executing warrants, doing surveillance and all the investigative techniques that we have at the FBI,” FBI Assistant Special Agent Shawn Matthews said. Matthews emphasized that the sweep will remain aggressive, noting, “It’s not going to be 37 and done. We’re going to continue to work with APD, we’re going to foster that relationship to relentlessly pursue the violent offenders here in Atlanta.”
Local criminal suspects
Among those captured is Kenneth Jones, who faced charges of feticide and three counts of aggravated assault following a December 2025 shooting on I-285 that killed a pregnant teenager’s unborn child. Jones hid inside an apartment with two children when federal agents closed in, though he was taken into custody without injuries. Authorities also arrested 34-year-old Aldemetrius Brown, a suspect wanted in connection with a deadly August 2025 shooting in northwest Atlanta who barricaded himself inside an attic for several hours before surrendering.
Future safety operations
The exact identities of the remaining 24 targets initially selected by the task force have not been publicly disclosed by investigators. It also remains unclear exactly how many additional names law enforcement officials plan to add to their tracking list.
Ongoing agency collaboration
The FBI plans to sustain its focused tracking efforts alongside local police officers for at least the next month leading into the summer events. Federal field offices will continue to partner with various local law enforcement teams across the state on separate safety operations throughout the calendar year.
