DALLAS—Shots rang out at a federal building early on Sept. 24, sending law enforcement, detainees, and civilians alike into chaos.
It soon became evident that a shooter had opened fire at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) location in Dallas.
Here’s what we know so far.
What Happened?
The gunman was targeting the ICE location from a nearby rooftop, shooting “indiscriminately,” according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The shots hit the ICE building, a van, and several detainees of the facility, one of whom was killed. Two more victims were in critical condition, as of the evening of Sept. 24. The shooter was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The incident took place near 1120 Empire Central Place, according to eyewitness reports.
The identities of the victims have not been released, but Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson stated at a news conference shortly after the incident that no law enforcement officers were injured by the shooter.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons spoke to CNN about the incident, saying that the “preliminary information is a possible sniper.”
“We have three individuals that are down at this time. We’re not sure on their condition. They’ve been taken to the hospital,” Lyons said.
Suspect Identified
The suspect in the attack was identified by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem during a Wednesday evening interview with Fox News.
Noem said the suspect was 29-year-old Joshua Jahn.
She said early indications suggested that the Jahn was politically motivated in the attack and was specifically targeting ICE.
“We can tell you that he was on an elevated rooftop, that he shot into a building—into a carport area, that he was targeting ICE based on what we’ve seen so far as evidence in this case,” Noem said.
“We see this kind of violence across the country every day, people who have been targeting law enforcement officers not only in their rhetoric but also in their actions,” Noem said.
Few other details about the suspect have been released.
President Donald Trump responded to the shooting in a post on Truth Social, calling it “despicable.”
“The Brave Men and Women of ICE are just trying to do their jobs, and remove the ‘WORST of the WORST’ Criminals out of our Country, but they are facing an unprecedented increase in threats, violence, and attacks by Deranged Radical Leftists,” Trump said.
From the Scene
Jeff Kuta, who was working early at his catering job near the ICE facility, heard the shots and saw police arrive at the neighboring building, about 200 feet away.
Kuta had stepped outside on the dark, rainy morning when he heard a loud blast from the vicinity of the building next door.
He said the shot was so loud that he thought that it might have been a car accident, or maybe early morning construction.
Another coworker who was taking out the trash heard the noise and met up with Kuta outside their building.
Kuta said more shots rang out—perhaps six in total. “They were spaced apart. It wasn’t like a rat-tat-tat; it was like a bang,” he said. “I don’t know what [weapon] he could have had—something powerful.” It was still dark out, he said.
Kuta said some of his coworkers went closer to the building when a woman who they assumed came out of the building drove up.
According to Kuta, the woman said: “‘I think somebody’s in the building. I’m calling the cops.’”
Then he saw two police officers arrive; one had a shield, and the other appeared to have a gun.
One officer went around the corner of the building on foot while the other trailed him in a police car, Kuta said.
Afterward, there were no shots, he said.
FBI Investigating as Act of ’Targeted Violence’
Joe Rothrock, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Dallas office, said during the news conference that the incident was being viewed as an act of “targeted violence.”
FBI Director Kash Patel posted an update on X, saying that the FBI, DHS, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives are all working with the Dallas Police Department and state authorities.
Patel said an initial review of the evidence indicated an ideological motive behind the attack.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called the shooting a “vile attack … motivated by hatred for ICE.”
“Our prayers are with the families of those killed and our ICE law enforcement,” she said.
Anti-ICE Messages Found
The FBI said during the morning news conference that ammunition with anti-ICE messaging was found at the scene.
Patel shared a photo in his update showing one of the unspent shell casings with the phrase “ANTI ICE,” in what appeared to be marker-made lettering.
Vice President JD Vance also referred to the shooting as “politically motivated” and said there was additional information collected by investigators that supported that claim.
“It looks like some of the detainees, in other words, some of the potential illegal aliens, were some of those who are affected,” he said.
Although the Trump administration doesn’t support having illegal aliens in the country, Vance said, “we don’t want them to be executed by violent assassins engaged in political violence.”
Officials Call for End to Political Violence
Johnson urged Americans to respond to the incident with prayers for the victims, their families, and the nation.
“We are a country and a city that needs prayer,” the mayor said at the news conference. “I’m going to ask you all to join me also in praying for this city, that we can come together at a time like this, and that we can be there for one another the way we always have.
“[Prayer will] help us all get through this very difficult time—not just in our city, but in our country.”
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) also addressed reporters, expressing a similar sentiment.
In his update, Patel called this shooting and others “despicable, politically motivated attacks against law enforcement, [and] not a one-off.”
The FBI director recalled a similar incident that happened two months ago in which an individual ambushed another ICE facility and targeted officers.
“It has to end, and the FBI and our partners will lead these investigative efforts to see to it that those who target our law enforcement are pursued and brought to the fullest extent of justice,” Patel said.
Noem cited warnings given to politicians and those in the media to “tone down” rhetoric about ICE and law enforcement.
“This shooting must serve as a wake-up call to the far-left that their rhetoric about ICE has consequences,” the DHS secretary said. “Comparing ICE day-in and day-out to the Nazi Gestapo, the Secret Police, and slave patrols has consequences.”
Trump Previews Order on Left-Wing Groups
Trump spoke out on Truth Social, following the shooting, calling it despicable and praising the “brave men and women of ICE” who are “just trying to do their jobs” to enforce immigration law.
“This violence is the result of the Radical Left Democrats constantly demonizing Law Enforcement, calling for ICE to be demolished, and comparing ICE Officers to ‘Nazis,’” Trump said.
The president cited his previous action to declare Antifa a terrorist organization, and said he would sign an executive order to “dismantle these Domestic Terrorism Networks” within the next few days.
“I am calling on all Democrats to stop this rhetoric against ICE and America’s law enforcement, right now!” Trump wrote in all caps. “The Trump Administration is fully committed to backing Law Enforcement, Strong Borders, securing our Homeland, deporting Violent Illegal Criminals, and fully rooting out the Left Wing Domestic Terrorism that is terrorizing our Country.”
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