471 dangerous criminals arrested, including 72 known gang members, during 10-week ‘Operation Triple Beam,’ officials say

HOUSTON – Houston police commanders and U.S. Marshals Service officials and other law enforcement agencies held a news conference Tuesday to announce the results of a violent crime initiative called “Operation Triple Beam.”

During the operation, spanning 10 weeks, authorities said the area’s most dangerous and violent criminals were targeted with local and federal charges. The major focus of the operation -- the fourth installment of its kind -- were fugitives, including some of the most violent gang members sought by law enforcement in southwest Houston and Fort Bend County. The operation ran from July 19 through Sept. 24.

The operation netted 471 arrests, including 72 known gang members; 95 weapons were seized, as well as 541 kilograms of narcotics and more than $421,000, authorities said.

Among the charges, 28 were charged with homicide, 188 were charged with aggravated assault, while others face robbery, weapons and narcotics drug charges, police said. KPRC 2 will update this story as more information is made available about the arrests.

“This operation gave people their lives back,” Fort Bend County Sheriff Eric Fagan said. “That you can feel safer now. The ones that should be in fear now are the violent fugitives and the gang members. Because jointly together, we’re stronger together than separate. We’re collaborating with all agencies, especially with the marshal’s office, that give us the funding to do this.”

Here are some of the images shared by authorities during the news conference on Tuesday.