A gunman armed with a rifle shot at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Dallas, resulting in the death of one detainee and the injury of two others before the shooter took his own life, according to authorities. Initially, it was reported that two of the three victims had died, but the Department of Homeland Security later clarified that two remain in critical condition.
Law enforcement identified the shooter as Joshua Jahn, aged 29, but details of the investigation have not been publicly disclosed. The motive behind the attack remains unknown, although a photo shared on social media by agency head Kash Patel displayed a bullet marked with “ANTI-ICE.”
The Department of Homeland Security stated that the shooter targeted the ICE building and shot at a van where the victims were located. Fortunately, no ICE agents were harmed during the incident. The shooting occurred at the local ICE field office in Dallas, where detainees are processed temporarily.
During a news conference, authorities withheld specific information about the shooting, including the identities of the victims and the shooter. The FBI is investigating the incident as a targeted act of violence.
This attack is the latest in a series of targeted violence incidents in the U.S., following a similar shooting two weeks ago involving conservative figure Charlie Kirk. Witnesses, like Edwin Cardona, shared their experiences of the chaos, with Cardona expressing fear for his family’s safety during the shooting.
Several political figures, including Vice-President JD Vance and Senator Ted Cruz, condemned the violence and called for an end to politically motivated attacks on law enforcement. However, Democratic Representative Marc Veasey criticized officials for potentially manipulating the narrative to avoid portraying migrants as victims in the incident.
Local religious leaders, such as Reverend Ashley Anne Sipe, lamented the tragedy, emphasizing the need for non-violent solutions. They often gather for vigils outside the ICE facility to show solidarity with immigrants facing deportation.
The Dallas ICE facility has faced security threats before, including a recent bomb threat and a previous attack that injured a police officer. Similar incidents have occurred at immigration facilities in Texas, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in safeguarding these locations.