Trump blames Radical Left Democrats for Dallas ICE shooting as FBI investigates act of targeted violence

A gunman opened fire on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement van at a Dallas detention facility early Wednesday, killing one person and injuring two others before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on a nearby rooftop, authorities said. The victims were migrants; no law enforcement officers were hurt in the attack.

The FBI said the shooting is being investigated as an act of targeted violence. During a briefing, Special Agent in Charge Joe Rothrock said the incident involved an unmarked van transporting detainees to the short-term ICE facility and that the gunman opened fire as detainees were being transferred and the portcullis to the facility was open. He also noted that shell casings found near the shooter bore the words “ANTI-ICE.” The agency said the investigation remains ongoing and is focused on motive and possible links to other violence.

The gunman was identified as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn. Officials said Jahn began firing from a rooftop after a flare of activity at the detention site and then turned the weapon on the unmarked van. He died at the scene from a self-inflicted wound. Authorities confirmed that one person was killed and two others were wounded, all of them migrants, and that no ICE or other law enforcement officers were injured. The shooting was being treated as an act of targeted violence by federal investigators.

In the wake of the shooting, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social blaming rhetoric from the “Radical Left Democrats” for the violence. He called the incident despicable and said, “I am calling on all Democrats to stop this rhetoric against ICE and America’s law enforcement, right now.” He reiterated his administration’s stance on backing law enforcement, securing borders, and deporting violent illegal criminals, while condemning what he described as left-wing domestic terrorism.

Trump’s post followed his public stance earlier this week, in which he labeled ANTIFA a domestic terrorism network. The president’s comments today echoed his broader critique of Democratic rhetoric about law enforcement and immigration, a central tension in current U.S. politics as lawmakers debate border security and criminal-justice policy.

Officials cautioned that investigators are examining whether the writer’s messages on the shell casings reflect a broader ideological motive. The FBI emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and that authorities are pursuing all leads to determine the shooter’s intent and any potential affiliations.

The incident comes as political and partisan tensions intensify around immigration and crime policies. Law enforcement officials have warned of threats to officers and facilities as rhetoric on both sides of the aisle has grown louder in recent days, complicating the security environment around federal facilities. The Dallas incident remains under active investigation, with federal prosecutors expected to release updates as more information becomes available.

Meanwhile, security and policy questions persist for ICE and other federal agencies tasked with enforcing immigration laws. Authorities have stressed that there was no indication at this time that any responding officers were injured, and they have urged the public to await formal updates from law enforcement as the investigation continues. The broader political debate over how to respond to unauthorized immigration and how to talk about law enforcement remains deeply polarized, with officials on both sides arguing about security, civil liberties, and the tone of national discourse.

The investigation continues, with federal agents reviewing surveillance footage, ballistics data, and the motive behind Jahn’s attack. As authorities pursue answers, the local and federal response reiterates a commitment to protect detention facilities and the personnel who operate them, while political leaders weigh how rhetoric may influence real-world violence.