Multiple detainees at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in Dallas were shot after gunfire broke out on Wednesday. Officials have only confirmed the death of one victim and the shooter.
Authorities say the shooter, positioned on a nearby rooftop, began shooting around 6:40 a.m. The chaos ended when the gunman took his own life. He was confirmed dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
While no federal agents were harmed, police reported that three ICE detainees were struck. Two were taken to the hospital, and one died at the scene.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem denounced the shooting, describing the incident as part of a troubling trend that must be stopped. “While we don’t know the motive yet, we know that our ICE law enforcement is facing unprecedented violence against them,” she said.
Investigators believe the attack may not have been random. Immigration attorney Fernando Dubove explained that detainees scheduled for deportation to Mexico typically leave from that Dallas location every morning. According to Dubove, detainees are escorted in chains to buses bound for the border city of Laredo. He theorised that the shooter was aware of the routine and positioned himself to get a precise shot during the transfer.
The FBI has joined Dallas police in the investigation. Former FBI Special Agent Jackson noted that multiple crime scenes are now under review, including the ICE building, the rooftop perch, and the surrounding area. Investigators will also probe the suspect’s residence as soon as they have successfully identified him.
Jackson shared that the shooting was likely a planned operation given that the suspect had positioned himself on an adjacent building to target a non-distinct ICE building.
Officials confirmed that the ICE field office, located off Interstate 35 East near Love Field Airport, had recently received a bomb threat. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said investigators are now examining whether that earlier threat was connected to Wednesday’s shooting.