A sniper fired gunfire from a rooftop, killing two detainees at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility early Wednesday.
Along with the two ICE inmates that were killed, a third remained in critical condition. As authorities approached the gunman, they discovered the sniper, a white male armed with a rifle, who had committed suicide. According to social media, the alleged gunman is Joshua Jahn, a 29-year-old guy. 'Anti-ice' slogans were discovered on gunshot casings at the location.
The attacker opened fire when the detainees were being transferred by bus, and the facility's gate was open. The gunman was discovered dead on the top of a nearby immigration attorney's building from a self-inflicted pistol wound as agents closed in, according to WFAA.
Police responded to a call in the 8100 block of North Stemmons Freeway around 6:40 a.m following reports of shots being fired at the facility from a nearby building. Two people were taken to a hospital with gunshot wounds, and a third victim died at the scene. One of the two individuals taken to hospital didn’t survive their injuries, while the other remained in critical condition, FOX4 reported.
Dozens of emergency vehicles were seen along a highway near the facility. Traffic cameras near the scene show six lanes of a normally busy freeway completely empty, with cars and semi-trailers ground to a halt on an interstate exit.
In the aftermath, FBI Dallas confirmed that FBI officers are at the scene of the shooting. During a Thursday press morning meet, Dallas FBI officials announced that the shooting was ‘an act of targeted violence.’
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Noem said on X: 'While we don't know the motive, we do know that our ICE officers are subjected to unprecedented brutality. It must cease. "Please pray for the victims and their families."
Although the shooter appeared to be targeting migrants in ICE custody, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stated on X that the shooting was an attack on ICE and law enforcement.
"We will continue to do everything in our power to combat the alarming increase of targeted attacks on ICE and all law enforcement by evil, twisted individuals." Paxton wrote.
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility where three people were shot has three or four holding cells, where detainees are usually processed before they are transferred to a detention center according to CNN, citing a former official at the detention facility.
The facility’s capacity ranges from a few detainees to around 100 people, but it typically averages a couple dozen people at a time, the official said.
Wednesday’s attack comes as the Dallas ICE facility has been targeted by pro-immigration demonstrators in recent months, protesting Trump-era immigration enforcement.
Demonstrations this year have included CAIR-DFW and Students for Justice in Palestine, the Brown Berets de DFW, and regular prayer vigils by interfaith clergy and Faith Commons.
Last month, a man identified as Bratton Dean Wilkinson, 36, was arrested after making a bomb threat against the immigration processing center.
Wilkinson allegedly arrived at the entrance on August 25 and claimed to have a bomb in his backpack, and showed a ‘detonator’ on his wrist. He is now facing charges of making terroristic threats.
In a nearby ICE facility in Alvarado, Texas, another attack took place on July 4 where 10 people were arrested for shooting at law enforcement officers.
Armed assailants with tactical gear were charged with terrorism and aggravated assault for the attack, which officials said at the time was intended to disrupt the ICE facility’s operations.
This is a developing story and will be updated as information is confirmed.
