DALLAS — A gunman opened fire at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Dallas on Wednesday, resulting in the death of one detainee and injuring two others before taking his own life, according to authorities.
Investigators discovered messages in the suspect’s belongings that were critical of ICE; however, officials stated that no connections to broader terrorist or extremist groups have been confirmed.
The attack occurred in the morning when a van carrying ICE detainees arrived at the facility. The shooter, identified as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn, fired from a nearby location, targeting the detainees. Jahn died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities indicated that the two injured detainees were hospitalized in critical condition. The identity of the deceased detainee has not yet been released.
Investigators recovered handwritten notes and electronic materials from Jahn’s residence, which allegedly included statements critical of ICE and federal agencies.
Dallas Police Chief Maria Valdez stated, “Preliminary evidence indicates this was a planned attack, targeting ICE employees and detainees.”
Officials confirmed that Jahn acted alone and there is no verified connection to any organized extremist group, although authorities are continuing to investigate his background and motives.
President Donald Trump condemned the shooting as a politically motivated attack and attributed it to what he described as “Radical Left Democrats” and their anti-law enforcement rhetoric. He stated,
“The radical left is causing the problem… It’s going to get worse and ultimately, it’s going to go back on them. Bad things happen when they play these games,” Trump said. “I’ll give you a little clue, the right is a lot tougher than the left and the right is not doing this. And they better not get them energized because it won’t be good for the left.”
Trump also labeled the shooter as “deranged” and emphasized the need for increased support for law enforcement agencies like ICE.
Vice President Vance also condemned the attack, attributing it to left-wing rhetoric. He stated,
“You can go straight to hell,” said Vance.
This remark was directed at California Governor Gavin Newsom, whom Vance accused of inciting violence against law enforcement. Vance further criticized Newsom’s recent comments, labeling the Trump administration as authoritarian.
Following Vice President JD Vance’s criticism, Newsom rejected the accusation that his rhetoric contributed to the violence.
“Violence is never the answer, and we expressly condemn what happened in Texas this morning,” A spokesperson for Newsom stated.
The spokesperson emphasized Newsom’s steady opposition to violence against police, noting it differs from what some Republican leaders have done.
ICE Director Todd Lyons referred to the incident as a “tragic and indiscriminate act of violence,” emphasizing the agency’s commitment to ensuring the safety of its employees and detainees. Federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, assisted local authorities in investigating.
This incident has led to new talks about security at federal facilities nationwide. Lyons stated that ICE will look into its procedures to avoid similar attacks. Authorities are asking anyone with information about Jahn’s plans or activities before the attack to reach out to local law enforcement.
