Dallas ICE facility shooting described as 'the very definition of terrorism' by federal officials
FBI and prosecutors say Joshua Jahn acted alone in the attack, which investigators call targeted violence; notes found at his home reveal anti-government sentiment and hatred for immigration authorities.
A gunman identified as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn opened fire on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement van at a Dallas detention facility in the early hours of September 24, authorities said. Jahn acted alone, officials confirmed, as detainees were being transferred and the portcullis to the facility was open. One person died and two were wounded in the attack. Jahn was found dead on a nearby rooftop from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Federal investigators treated the incident as a targeted act of violence, with notes recovered from Jahn’s residence raising the possibility of additional casualties if responders had not intervened. Bullets recovered at the scene bore the inscription “ANTI-ICE.”
Investigators recovered an 8mm bolt-action rifle that Jahn legally acquired in August, according to FBI Dallas Field Office officials. In addition to the weapon, hand-written notes described ICE agents’ work as “human trafficking,” and other writings indicated a deep-seated hatred for the federal government. Officials described the notes as including crude language, though they did not otherwise elaborate on the content. Jahn reportedly left a note indicating he acted alone and referenced the investigation his actions would prompt, signaling an awareness of the potential for broad scrutiny across agencies. Moments after gunfire began, law enforcement and emergency personnel moved detainees to safety while continuing to control the scene.
The lead federal prosecutor in the case, Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy Larson, said the attack was “the very definition of terrorism.” FBI official Joe Rothrock, the special agent in charge of the Dallas Field Office, said Jahn acknowledged the possibility of other casualties and knew that detainees would be transported to a location that morning. Rothrock added that when the bullets started flying from a rooftop adjacent to the facility, ATF and ICE agents put themselves in the line of fire to evacuate people at risk.
Authorities disclosed that bullets were found with inscriptions linked to anti-ICE sentiment, and that Jahn’s notes hinted at a broader intent beyond a single act. While officials emphasized that they are continuing to pursue every lead, there has been no indication at this stage of a broader conspiracy or accomplices. The incident remains under federal investigation as an act of targeted violence, with investigators pursuing potential ties to other threats and reviewing Jahn’s online footprint for additional context.
Images from the scene show the rapid response by law enforcement and the urgent effort to move detainees to safety as gunfire erupted. The investigation continues to determine how Jahn selected the facility, whether he conducted any prior reconnaissance, and what, if any, precautions could be implemented to prevent a similar attack in the future.
The FBI and other federal agencies have stressed the importance of reviewing all potential leads while avoiding speculation about motives beyond what Jahn himself appeared to articulate in his notes. Officials also underscored the need for continued vigilance in protecting personnel involved in the handling and transfer of detainees, as the threat environment surrounding immigration enforcement activities remains a focal point for law enforcement in the current period.
As the investigation proceeds, federal prosecutors and agents are expected to provide additional updates on any findings that may clarify the full scope of Jahn’s plan, the exact timing and sequence of the attack, and any operational security measures that could be strengthened to mitigate similar threats in the future.
