DPD, ATF crack down with sweep on Detroit gang 'A1 Killers'

Authorities rounded up several gang members who call themselves the "A1 Killers" Wednesday.

Numerous law enforcement agencies including the ATF and Detroit police served numerous warrants downtown and on the city's west side.

Escorted away in handcuffs on 16th Street Wednesday is one of 14 members of the Detroit gang "A1 Killers" made up of drug dealers and violent criminals. One suspect arrested police believe was the ringleader.

"You have armed robbery, you have trafficking, you have carjacking," said Donald Dawkins, ATF special agent. "And definitely narcotics trafficking are the big piece of the puzzle that brought us here."

Federal agents working with Detroit and Wayne State University police, say they've been planning this warrant sweep for a year and a half on the gang.

"They’re dangerous guys," Dawkins said. "A lot of violence associated with that drug trafficking. We want to (crack down) the city and the whole state - but especially around campuses."

A suspect arrested on Forest was wanted for several outstanding warrants.  And police say by 4 p.m. Wednesday, six arrests had already been made.

On Lamphere police say as they arrived, one of the suspects tried getting away by jumping out a back window but he was captured.

"You could get up to 20 years or more easily for the amount of drugs that they've been selling," Dawkins said. "The gun violence that's involved with it."

This sweep came just a day after the feds indicted eight members of the street gang known as “Band Crew" Tuesday on several charges including attempted murder and racketeering. That gang was busted after bragging about their crimes on social media.

And these gang members police say were not hard to find, frequenting Peterboro street.

"A lot of it started there," Dawkins said. "And kind of expanded out into surrounding areas."

Working into the night, federal agents and local police credit the public for calling the cops and telling them when and where to catch these guys - because Dawkins says - the community is sick of it.

"It's no surprise we're here," Dawkins said. "We're not here by accident."