A shooting at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office in Dallas left one detainee dead and two others injured, officials confirmed. The shooter, identified by NBC News as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Dallas police responded to the scene around 6:40 a.m. on Wednesday. According to their statement, the suspect opened fire on a government building from a nearby location. Two victims were taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds, while a third died at the scene. The Department of Homeland Security initially reported two detainee fatalities but later corrected that to one killed and two in critical condition.
The shooter fired indiscriminately at the ICE building, including at a van in a secure area where the detainees were located. One of the critically injured detainees is a Mexican national, and Mexico’s foreign ministry is providing consular assistance.
At a news conference, FBI officials noted that shell casings found near the shooter were engraved with “ANTI ICE” messages. The incident is being investigated as an act of targeted violence, though no law enforcement officers were harmed.
Former President Donald Trump condemned the shooting on social media, blaming “radical left Democrats” and calling for an end to anti-ICE rhetoric. He also referenced plans to sign an executive order targeting domestic terrorism networks. However, authorities have found no evidence linking the shooter to any organization, including antifa.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz described the incident as politically motivated violence and noted it was the third such shooting targeting ICE or Customs and Border Protection in Texas.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the shooter died by suicide and emphasized that details are still emerging. She expressed concern over increasing violence against ICE personnel but stated the motive remains unknown.Law enforcement officials told CNN that at least two of the victims were ICE detainees. Todd Lyons, the acting ICE director, informed the network that the scene is secure and confirmed three people were shot and hospitalized. An ICE spokesperson also told NBC News that all three shooting victims were detainees.
Dan Bongino, the deputy director of the FBI, stated that the agency is working closely with state and federal law enforcement partners at the Dallas crime scene.
JD Vance described the shooting as an “obsessive attack on law enforcement” that “must stop.” In a post on X, the vice-president wrote, “I’m praying for everyone hurt in this attack and for their families.” Vance claimed the suspect was a “left-wing extremist,” though law enforcement has not confirmed this. As of Wednesday afternoon, the motive remained unknown. Vance added, “There’s some evidence that we have that’s not yet public, but we know this person was politically motivated to go after law enforcement,” without providing further details.
John Cornyn, a Republican senator from Texas, called the shooting “horrific” and said his staff is in contact with federal and local officials in Dallas to ensure all necessary resources are available for the investigation. He added that he is keeping those affected in his prayers.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott stated that “Texas fully supports ICE” and emphasized that the incident will not hinder the state’s efforts to arrest, detain, and deport undocumented immigrants. He pledged cooperation with ICE and the Dallas Police Department to determine the shooter’s motive.
During a news conference, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson urged residents to remain patient and calm, allowing law enforcement to conduct their investigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the shooting at a Texas ICE facility designed with clear concise questions and answers
FAQs Shooting at Texas ICE Facility
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What happened at the ICE facility in Texas
A gunman opened fire at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Texas One person was killed and two others were wounded
2 When and where did this happen
The shooting occurred on the morning of at an ICE facility in
3 Who was the shooter
The identity and motive of the shooter are under investigation by law enforcement No official details have been released to the public yet
4 What is ICE
ICE stands for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement It is a federal government agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws investigating crossborder crime and managing the detention and removal of undocumented immigrants
5 What was the antiICE message
Investigators found shell casings at the scene that had the words antiICE engraved or scratched onto them This suggests the shooter was motivated by opposition to the agency
Advanced Detailed Questions
6 Who were the victims
One person was killed and two were wounded The identities of the victims and whether they were ICE employees contractors or detainees have not been officially confirmed
7 What is the significance of the message on the shell casings
It is a strong indicator that the attack was politically or ideologically motivated specifically targeting the ICE agency This makes it a potential act of domestic terrorism which the FBI is helping to investigate
8 How are authorities responding to the incident
Multiple agencies including local police the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations are involved They are investigating the shooting as a targeted attack and working to determine the full motive and any potential accomplices
9 Has there been similar violence against ICE facilities before
Yes there have been previous incidents including protests vandalism and threats against ICE facilities and employees often linked to political debates over US immigration policy