The U.S. Marshals Service on Friday announced the arrest of the suspect who allegedly crashed his vehicle into a federal agent with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) on December 13. The crash allegedly occurred as the suspect was fleeing from other law enforcement agencies participating in the Memphis Safe Task Force deployed to the city in September.
According to the Marshals, 24-year-old Lamark Boykin was arrested on Friday to face charges of unlawfully possessing a firearm and driving under the influence. The federal law enforcement agency alleged that on December 13, “Boykin’s vehicle was involved in a fleeing incident that resulted in a crash causing injuries to an ATF agent and an uninvolved citizen.”
The crash occurred after Boykin allegedly attempted to flee other law enforcement deployed in the task force, and the Marshals said the earlier incident, “remains under active review by Task Force partners,” who are working “closely with federal, state, and local partners to investigate the circumstances surrounding the December 13 incident.”
While the Marshals did not provide details for the illegal firearm that was allegedly in Boykin’s possession at the time of his arrest, Vice President JD Vance in October explained that the guns seized by the task force are typically taken from felons or other individuals prohibited from owning firearms.
“We don’t want people who have violated the law, who have committed felonies,” to have access to firearms, said Vance. “If you’re a person who’s committed four felonies and a court has lawfully ordered that you shouldn’t have a gun, and you’re running around with a firearm, I don’t have any problem with law enforcement saying you don’t get to have that firearm that is illegally possessed, illegally obtained.”
A City of Memphis data portal shows that more than 4,500 arrests have occurred since the task force deployed on September 30. During that time, law enforcement recovered 1,036 illegal firearms and 600 vehicles.
Memphis Mayor Paul Young recently credited the deployment of the task force after the city reported its lowest crime rate since at least 2001.
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Tom Pappert is a 2025 recipient of the Dao Prize and the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star. He also reports for the Star News Network. Follow Tom on X. Email tips to [email protected].
