Dallas ICE shooting tied to gaming group; investigators review online posts
Gunman Joshua Jahn killed one and wounded two at a Dallas ICE field office before taking his own life; authorities probe his digital footprint and a long-running Steam group that posted remarks after the attack.
A gunman killed one person and critically wounded two others at the Dallas field office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Wednesday before dying by a self-inflicted gunshot wound, law enforcement officials said. The FBI identified the shooter as Joshua Jahn, 29, of Dallas, who died at the scene. Investigators are examining Jahn's online footprint and his ties to a gaming group, including a Steam community that posted remarks after the attack.
Jahn led a digital life on Steam dating to 2011. He logged more than 17,000 hours of playtime, mostly in shooter titles, and was online hours before the attack to play Fortress 2 and Left 4 Dead 2, according to the platform's records. On Steam he used several aliases, including #impeachment, Hankiebob and Frank Hoenikker, a reference to a Kurt Vonnegut character. The eight-member group on Steam is called Fug bithces Get Money, formed in 2012, with the tagline we can uze da pew pew or not we are coollllll :-D. In the group chat, a member remarked that Jahn should have practiced at the range more, a line investigators say underscores a casual tone in online discussions around the violence.
Jahn's Steam profile shows he logged 17,405 hours of playtime, roughly two years, with a focus on first-person shooters. He logged onto Steam hours before the attack to play Fortress 2 and Left 4 Dead 2, according to the account. He used multiple nicknames, including #impeachment, Hankiebob and Frank Hoenikker. Investigators are reviewing Jahn's online footprint as part of the case.
During the investigation, authorities found a map in Jahn's car near the Dallas facility that depicted radioactive fallout across parts of the United States. The map includes text above a representation of the nation indicating that fallout has passed over the depicted areas more than twice since 1951. The FBI says Jahn died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after firing on an ICE vehicle at the scene. The items found in the car are being reviewed by investigators.
Authorities are interviewing members of Jahn's Steam group and other online associates as part of the ongoing inquiry. They are reviewing chat logs and gaming histories to determine whether online culture or specific conversations played a role in the attack. Officials caution that the motive remains under investigation and that no final conclusions have been reached.
Officials stressed that online spaces can amplify violent rhetoric, and law enforcement will examine digital behavior in connection with violent acts. The Dallas incident adds to ongoing discussions about how online gaming communities and social media intersect with public safety, as investigators continue to gather evidence and build the case.