Rooftop gunman attacks Dallas ICE Centre, leaves two dead, one injured

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

A sniper attack early Wednesday targeted a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office in Dallas, Texas, leaving two detainees dead and a third in critical condition.

The attacker, identified as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities said.

The Dallas shooting began at approximately 6:40 a.m. local time, with the gunman firing from a rooftop adjacent to the ICE facility.

The assault appeared to focus on a van in the secure entryway, or “sallyport,” where detainees were being processed or moved.

Federal officials in Dallas described the attack as “indiscriminate,” emphasizing that no ICE agents or law enforcement personnel were injured.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a statement confirming that three detainees were shot: one died at the scene, another succumbed to injuries later, and the third remains hospitalized in critical condition.

A revealing piece of evidence in the investigation was an unspent shell casing on which the phrase “ANTI-ICE” was reportedly inscribed in marker.

The FBI, citing this and other material, is treating the assault as targeted violence with an ideological motive.

FBI Director Kash Patel shared images of the shell casings on social media, underscoring the significance of the inscription.

In the aftermath, authorities descended on the suspect’s residence in McKinney, Texas. Media and law enforcement reports noted that Jahn’s older brother expressed surprise over the direction of his brother’s act, stating he was unaware of any anti-ICE sentiment.

Political and public figures quickly reacted. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem denounced the attack, calling it a “vile” act motivated by hatred toward ICE. She warned that sustained hostile rhetoric against immigration enforcement agencies could have lethal consequences.

Vice President JD Vance tweeted that the “obsessive attack on law enforcement, particularly ICE, must stop.”

Senator Ted Cruz, representing Texas, urged an end to “politically motivated violence” and criticized aggressive messaging toward ICE.

The Dallas shooting is not an isolated incident. Earlier in 2025, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) facilities in Texas were also attacked, among them, an ICE detention centre in Alvarado where a police officer was wounded, and a U.S. Border Patrol station in McAllen that came under gunfire.

Authorities are still withholding the names of the victims. The FBI and local agencies continue to coordinate the investigation, and searches are underway into Jahn’s motive, connections, social media activity, and possible affiliations with extremist movements.

As of now, the motive remains under scrutiny, but the Philadelphia of “ANTI-ICE” on the ammunition suggests the attacker consciously targeted the facility for ideological reasons.

The shooting has reignited debates about political violence, extremism, and the safety of immigration enforcement operations in the United States.