Dallas ICE Shooting: What We Know About the Gunman and Victims

A gunman opened fire from a rooftop near a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Dallas on Wednesday morning, killing one detainee and critically injuring two others before taking his own life.

The victims were inside a transport van parked outside the ICE field office when the shooting occurred. According to investigators, they were not the intended targets of the attack. 

Authorities confirmed that all three individuals were restrained inside the van at the time. One of the injured victims is a Mexican national currently in hospital with serious injuries. No law enforcement officers were harmed during the incident, although some responded quickly to assist.

Federal officials identified the gunman as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn, a Texas resident with a record of legal troubles and unstable employment. Investigators say Jahn used a ladder to access a nearby rooftop and fired a bolt-action rifle at the ICE vehicle. 

Spent shell casings and ammunition found at the scene were marked with anti-ICE slogans. Materials recovered from Jahn’s home suggest he believed ICE was engaged in “human trafficking” and intended to disrupt their operations through violence.

Jahn previously worked in the solar energy industry and briefly in the legal cannabis sector in Washington state. He had no fixed residence for a period and was known to live out of his car. In 2016, he pleaded guilty to felony marijuana delivery charges and served five years’ probation. 

According to those who knew him, Jahn kept to himself and did not express strong political views. His brother, Noah Jahn, said he was unaware of any signs of radicalisation. The Dallas shooting follows a series of recent violent incidents targeting immigration facilities in Texas. 

Earlier this summer, a police officer was wounded during an armed assault on the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado. In a separate incident days later, federal agents were ambushed near a Border Patrol facility in McAllen. That attack ended with injuries and the death of the assailant.

Security analysts have raised concerns about the vulnerability of some ICE facilities, particularly those with exposed or poorly protected transport zones. The Dallas field office, located near Interstate 35 East and close to Dallas Love Field airport, has been noted as one such site. While some locations are heavily fortified, others remain accessible and potentially at risk.

In response to the shooting, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has ordered increased security at ICE facilities nationwide. The directive reflects growing concern over threats to federal personnel from individuals motivated by anti-government or anti-immigration sentiment.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the attack, including the gunman’s background and possible motives. While Jahn’s writings point to ideological beliefs, his personal history suggests issues related to isolation and mental health. 

Federal agencies are now facing renewed calls to strengthen the protection of staff and infrastructure amid a rising risk of targeted violence.