Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

firearm that was allegedly used in a homicide in Racine, Wisconsin, on October 17, 2020. Hardimon was arrested last week and made her initial appearance last Friday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis, Missouri.

According to allegations in a criminal complaint issued by the Racine County District Attorney, in Racine, Wisconsin, Khalil E Buckley, 23, was arrested on October 23, 2020, and charged with First Degree Intentional Homicide and Use of a Dangerous Weapon, among other charges, for his alleged role in the homicide of Marcus Caldwell, 20, in Racine, on October 17, 2020. The criminal complaint charging Buckley describes evidence collected at the crime scene in Racine, which included a Glock 22 pistol gun box, a receipt for the purchase of a Glock 22 in the case and a magazine in the gun case loaded with .40 caliber ammunition, consistent with a shell casing near the scene of the homicide.  An urgent firearms trace by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) yielded results indicating that a Glock 22 pistol was purchased by Hardimon on October 2, 2020, from Kevin’s Guns in St. Charles, Missouri. In addition, a forensic comparison of the ballistic evidence, namely a spent casing near the victim at the crime scene and ammunition found in the Glock 22 case, are consistent with one another.

"ATF works tirelessly on a daily basis to stem the flow of illegal firearms. Prohibited persons and those who supply firearms to those individuals will be held accountable and brought to justice," remarked ATF Special Agent in Charge Kristen de Tineo of the Chicago Field Division. "I would like to extend my gratitude to the special agents of the ATF Chicago and Kansas City Field Divisions and the officers of the Racine Police Department who worked hand in hand with our agents over the course of this investigation, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri and Racine County District Attorney Patricia Hanson for their prosecutorial commitment in charging these individuals."

“Let it be known that my office recommends prison in every case in which a felon possesses a firearm illegally,” said Racine County District Attorney Patricia Hanson. “From this point forward, my office will also include prison recommendations for those who illegally provide firearms to known felons, regardless of their lack of criminal history.”

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the ATF Chicago Field Division, the St. Louis Field Office of the ATF Kansas City Field Division, the United States Marshals Service and the Racine Police Department.

This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-n...

The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

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