Dallas ICE shooting: FBI reveals handwritten note threatened real terror as investigators detail pre-attack planning
The gunman, identified as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn, opened fire from a Dallas facility rooftop, killing one detainee and wounding two others before dying by suicide; FBI says there was extensive pre-attack activity.
A gunman opened fire at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas on Wednesday, killing one detainee and injuring two others before turning the gun on himself, authorities said. The shooter has been identified by law enforcement sources as Joshua Jahn, 29, who opened fire from a rooftop at the Dallas facility. The attack prompted a rapid response from federal agents and a large-scale evidence-gathering effort in the days that followed.
FBI Director Kash Patel disclosed that a handwritten note recovered at the scene threatened real terror for ICE agents and asked whether there was a sniper with armor-piercing rounds on the roof. Patel said agents have been working around the clock to seize devices, extract data, and process writings found at the location as well as in the subject's residence and bedroom. He noted that investigators see evidence of a high degree of pre-attack planning.
Patel said Jahn conducted multiple searches of ballistics and the Charlie Kirk Shot Video between September 23 and 24, and between August 19 and 24 he looked up apps that track the presence of ICE agents. He also downloaded a document titled Dallas County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management that contained a list of DHS facilities. Further accumulated evidence points toward a high degree of pre-attack planning.
The investigation also showed that Jahn searched for videos related to Charlie Kirk’s assassination in Utah in the days leading up to the Dallas attack. A bullet recovered at the scene bore the inscription anti-ICE. The gunman died after turning the weapon on himself.
Authorities described the inquiry as ongoing, with FBI Dallas and FBI headquarters working to seize devices, analyze data, and process writings obtained on location and in the subject’s residence. The case has heightened attention on security at federal immigration facilities amid ongoing policy debates and concerns about domestic threats. Federal officials said they will continue to review digital and physical evidence as they assess potential precursors and motive. The FBI also said it is coordinating with other federal and local agencies as investigations proceed.
This is a developing story, and investigators said additional details will be released as they become available.