In a devastating incident on Wednesday, gunfire erupted outside the Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office, resulting in the death of one detainee and critically injuring two others. The shocking event was captured on surveillance video, which shows officers and detainees seeking cover near two vans in the facility's sallyport.
According to authorities, a sniper, identified as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn, fired upon the building from a nearby rooftop early in the morning. The detainees were in the process of being unloaded from a van when the shooting began. Officials indicated that the detainees were being restrained for transport, in accordance with proper procedure. At the time of the attack, there were 10 detainees in the van, who had been transferred from a local jail.
During the chaos, heroic officers acted swiftly to secure the safety of the detainees while under fire. Nancy Larson, the acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas, praised their bravery at a news conference on Thursday. Surveillance footage captured armed agents carrying victims to safety amidst the gunfire. Inside the building, detainees could be seen running, handcuffed and shackled, some collapsing as they rushed to escape the deadly situation.
Authorities have described Joshua Jahn as the sole suspect in the shooting, who allegedly fired indiscriminately at the ICE building and the van using a bolt-action rifle. Larson revealed that Jahn aimed to maximize lethality against ICE personnel and cause significant property damage. Disturbingly, he left behind a note expressing a desire to instill fear in ICE agents, questioning whether there might be a sniper targeting them.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that Jahn's note referenced armor-piercing (AP) bullets, highlighting the premeditated nature of the attack. Furthermore, Jahn, who ultimately succumbed to a self-inflicted gunshot wound, had indicated in his handwritten notes that he did not expect to survive the assault. Investigators believe he acted alone and have found no affiliations with any specific group, although his notes reflected a general animosity toward the federal government.
In light of this violent attack, acting ICE Director Todd Lyons announced that all ICE facilities would be placed on higher alert. The investigation has revealed a concerning degree of pre-attack planning by Jahn, including searches on applications that track ICE agents and downloading documents related to DHS facilities. The implications of this incident extend beyond the immediate tragedy, raising critical questions about security protocols at ICE facilities and the safety of personnel and detainees alike.
