Story perspectives

Justice Dept Arrests Charles Ford for Supplying Shreveport Shooting Rifle

4/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Justice Department announced the arrest of Charles Ford, a felon who supplied the rifle used in the Shreveport shooting.
Federal investigators traced the Mossberg rifle to a Feb. 22, 2025 purchase given to Ford while hospitalized.
Prosecutors say Ford lied to ATF agents, admitted possession, and faces 15 years for felon-in-possession and five years for statements.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller said the arrest may bring solace to the Shreveport community.

History

Historical Context

The Gun Control Act of 1968 emerged in response to rising violence, notably the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, and Robert F. Kennedy later that year. Signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on October 22, 1968, the Act prohibited firearm possession by felons and established regulations for the firearms industry, reflecting shifting societal attitudes towards gun ownership.

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Story summary

The Justice Department announced the arrest of Charles Ford, a felon who supplied the rifle used in the Shreveport shooting.
Federal investigators traced the Mossberg rifle to a Feb. 22, 2025 purchase given to Ford while hospitalized.
Prosecutors say Ford lied to ATF agents, admitted possession, and faces 15 years for felon-in-possession and five years for statements.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller said the arrest may bring solace to the Shreveport community.

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