Dallas ICE facility shooting raises questions as motive remains under investigation
Authorities treat the attack as a targeted incident; a former cannabis industry worker with unclear political ties is under scrutiny as investigators review his past.
A gunman opened fire from a rooftop at a Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center on Wednesday, killing one migrant and wounding two others who were being escorted by federal agents into the facility, before turning the gun on himself. Authorities are treating the attack as a targeted assault and are continuing to review potential motives as the investigation unfolds.
Investigators recovered several items at the scene that have drawn attention to the attacker’s state of mind and possible motives. An unspent shell casing near the gunman bore the words Anti-ICE, and a handwritten note recovered by investigators referenced terror. The gunman’s beat-up Toyota Corolla also attracted scrutiny after a nuclear fallout map was taped to its side. The notes and items are part of the broader effort to determine whether the attack was specifically aimed at ICE personnel or migrants, or if other factors were involved.
The gunman has been identified as Joshua Jahn, 29, a former resident of Texas who had a short stint working on a legal cannabis farm in Benton City, Washington, in 2017 during a harvest season. Jahn fired from a rooftop at a busload of migrants escorted by federal agents into the processing center before taking his own life. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not publicly concluded a definitive motive for the shooting.
The man who employed Jahn during that Washington harvest described him as deeply focused on cannabis and, at the same time, lacking ambition beyond his interest in the weed scene. The former employer said Jahn was a young, quiet worker who lived in his car while in Washington and did not discuss politics or other topics of note during the job. He later described Jahn as not an exceptional worker and noted there was little work after the three-week harvest ended, suggesting Jahn drifted from one job to another rather than pursuing a steady career.
According to the former supervisor, Jahn appeared to have pursued cannabis work in Washington, but the arrangement did not last, and he ultimately returned to Texas. There are hints that Jahn may have engaged in cannabis sales in Texas prior to moving north for the harvest stint, and a prior marijuana possession case in 2015 is on record. After the Washington stint, Jahn was said to have worked at a solar plant in Texas, representing a stark shift in employment from a casual cannabis gig to a hard, industrial job.
Politically, Jahn was registered as an independent and cast ballots in recent elections, including the Democratic primary in 2020 and a ballot in 2024. His voting history has been noted by investigators as part of the broader profile the probe is building, but officials have stressed that no firm political motive has been established publicly.
Family members have offered conflicting portraits. Jahn’s mother posted anti-gun messages on social media, and a relative told a newspaper that Jahn was not a radical leftist and did not dislike immigration agents. Officials emphasized that the investigation continues and will examine a wide range of potential influences, from personal grievances to political or ideological factors.
The episode comes amid ongoing national discussions about immigration policy, border security, and the role of gun violence in public life. While investigators say the attack appears targeted, they have not yet determined a definitive link to policy debates or to Jahn’s political or personal beliefs. Federal investigators and local authorities continue to review security protocols at ICE facilities and to examine how such incidents might influence policy discussions at the federal level.
Further context about Jahn and his past comes from a former employer who described a man whose life tilted between a strong interest in cannabis and a lack of clear direction. The Golden Leaf Farm supervisor portrayed Jahn as someone who would show up and work, but who did not distinguish himself as a standout employee, and who ultimately drifted away when opportunities dwindled. The supervisor also noted Jahn headed north for a temporary cannabis job and then returned to Texas, a move the supervisor said might have been linked to Jahn’s interests in selling marijuana there.
The incident remains under investigation by federal and local authorities. Investigators are examining Jahn’s past, including his 2015 marijuana possession case, his employment history, and his political participation to determine whether any of these factors played a role in the attack. Officials emphasized that early declarations about motive are premature, and the focus remains on restoring safety at ICE facilities and understanding how such an act could be prevented in the future.
The Dallas shooting underscores broader concerns about immigration enforcement, facility security, and the potential for violence tied to ideological or personal grievances. As investigators collect and analyze evidence, lawmakers and policymakers will watch closely for any insights into how to reduce the risk of similar attacks while balancing the objectives of immigration policy and border management.