Dallas ICE shooting prompts probe of anti-law enforcement motive as details about gunman's family emerge
Authorities investigate possible ideological motive as two migrants were killed near a Dallas ICE facility; the shooter’s mother is described as a liberal gun-control advocate amid a broader look at political rhetoric surrounding gun rig…
A gunman opened fire at a Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility early Wednesday, killing two detainees and injuring a third before taking his own life as officers moved in, authorities said. The shooter, identified by law enforcement as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn, fired from an elevated position near the building as migrants were being transported in an unmarked ICE van, according to initial investigations.
The gunman’s family background has drawn attention as investigators pursue a fuller motive. Jahn’s mother, Sharon Jahn, is described in reports as a hardline liberal who publicly criticized gun-rights supporters online. The Independent confronted her in Dallas as she sobbed and declined to speak on the matter. The Daily Mail notes she maintained an active Facebook presence that followed figures such as Kamala Harris and Rachel Maddow, and included a page representing the U.S. Democratic Socialists. After the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas in 2022, she posted a lengthy rant challenging Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn and Governor Greg Abbott for their support of gun rights, writing: "Governor Abbott, Senator Cornyn and Senator Cruz how does it make you feel that your action to open up gun laws is responsible for the killing of 21 more people? Do you secretly sit in front of a tv and smile a demented smile? You must be proud of all the money that sits in your bank accounts from gun lobby support. Was it worth it, Governor Abbott? How about you senators?" She added: "When you prioritize money over people this is what you get," noting "blood money" all three had taken from the gun lobby, and asking why officials had failed the public. She also posted a short poem that read: "If we only have love, we can melt all the guns, and give the new world to our daughters and sons." Investigators have not publicly commented on the posts, and The Independent reported she was confronted by its staff while she cried.
Joshua Jahn’s brother, Noah, told NBC News that he did not believe his brother was especially interested in politics and had not voiced opinions on immigration before. Noah said Joshua was unemployed at the time and had previously worked as a coder; he was planning to move in with their parents in Oklahoma. The siblings grew up in Allen, Texas, where they spent their childhood attending the Boy Scouts. Noah added that their brother knew how to use a rifle that their parents owned, but he did not believe Joshua was a skilled marksman.
Investigators have not publicly determined a formal motive, but they said the shooting appeared to reflect anti-law enforcement sentiment. FBI Director Kash Patel released images of bullets found at the scene, showing the shell casings with the words "anti-ICE" written in blue ink. Homeland Security officials told reporters the death toll stood at two as of midafternoon, with a third victim in serious condition. Authorities said Jahn fired indiscriminately at the ICE office, injuring a card of migrants in the transport van and shattering windows in the building.
Officials offered initial context on Jahn’s background. He was arrested in 2015 in connection with a marijuana delivery charge, for which he faced felony-level charges at the time. He was identified by law enforcement as a registered independent in the 2024 election, and records show he last voted in Democratic primaries in March 2020. His brother described him as someone who was not known to be politically active or outspoken about issues such as immigration.
Public safety officials and lawmakers reacted to the incident with statements underscoring the seriousness of political violence and the need for calm in public discourse. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton described the attack as an assault on ICE and law enforcement; Senator Ted Cruz urged an end to rhetoric that could inspire violence and called for accountability for violent acts tied to political messaging. The incident, coming amid a national climate of heightened political tension, prompted questions about how public leaders’ rhetoric may influence individuals who commit violence. Cruz noted the recent killing of a public figure in Utah as part of the ongoing concerns about political violence and the role of incendiary speech in fueling such acts.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities review security footage, social media traces, and the shooter’s movements in the hours leading up to the attack. Investigators have emphasized that, at this stage, a definitive motive has not been publicly declared, though authorities have highlighted potential anti-law enforcement sentiment as a factor under consideration. Additional details about Jahn’s employment, living arrangements, and personal history are expected to surface as investigators continue to examine the case.