Breaking News: Sniper Attack on Dallas ICE Facility Leaves Two Detainees Dead, Third in Critical Condition

Dallas, Texas — September 24, 2025 — In a shocking act of targeted violence that has gripped the nation, a sniper opened fire on a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in northwestern Dallas early Wednesday morning, killing two detainees and critically wounding a third. The assailant, identified as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after the barrage, authorities confirmed during a tense midday press conference.

The attack unfolded around 6:40 a.m. near the ICE field office on the service road of Interstate 35E, just a mile and a half from Love Field Airport. Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux described the scene as chaotic: Officers responded to reports of a "sniper on top of the roof" of an adjacent building, where Jahn allegedly positioned himself some 200 yards away. He unleashed a hail of gunfire into an unmarked federal transport van carrying ICE detainees for processing—individuals arrested and awaiting transfer to long-term facilities. No ICE agents or law enforcement personnel were harmed.

"Today, we mourn the loss of two lives and pray for the survivor fighting for theirs," said Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, a Republican, opening the briefing with an impassioned call for prayer. "This city—our nation—needs prayer now more than ever. We stand united against hate." Johnson urged residents to support one another amid rising tensions over immigration enforcement.

FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas field office, Joe Rothrock, labeled the incident a "targeted attack" on ICE operations. Investigators recovered spent bullet casings etched with messages "anti-ICE in nature," suggesting a deliberate ideological motive. "This was not random; it was an assault on our federal partners," Rothrock stated, vowing a thorough probe into Jahn's background. The suspect, a local from the 8100 block of North Stemmons Freeway, had no prior known ties to the facility, but authorities are scouring his online activity and associates.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem decried the shooting as part of a disturbing pattern. "ICE law enforcement faces unprecedented violence—it must stop," she posted on X, highlighting two prior gunfire incidents at Texas ICE or Border Patrol sites this year, including a bomb threat in August. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons echoed the sentiment in a CNN interview, confirming all victims were detainees and praising the rapid response that neutralized the threat without further casualties.

The facility, a hub for detainee processing, has long been a flashpoint. Weekly prayer vigils by immigration advocates—waving signs like "Families Belong Together"—gather outside, underscoring the polarized national debate on border security. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott swiftly weighed in on X, affirming state support for ICE: "This assassination will not slow our arrests, detentions, and deportations of illegal immigrants. We stand with ICE and Dallas PD."

As the sun set over the cordoned-off site, flanked by dozens of police vehicles and ambulances, the community reeled. Eyewitness Jeremy Reyes, driving north on I-35, captured footage of the frenzy: "It looked like a war zone—lights flashing everywhere." Families of the victims, identities withheld pending notification, received counseling from federal teams.

This tragedy arrives amid heightened scrutiny of immigration policies, with federal deportations surging under the current administration. Experts fear it could inflame rhetoric on both sides. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) called it "horrific," promising prayers and a full investigation.

Dallas PD and the FBI continue to process the rooftop perch, urging tips via 214-670-4413. As investigations deepen, one question looms: In a divided America, how do we heal from such targeted rage?