Joshua Jahn, a 29-year-old man with connections to Texas and Oklahoma, carried out a deadly attack on a Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility that left two detainees dead and one critically injured.
The Attack
The shooting occurred at approximately 6:40 AM on Wednesday morning at the ICE field office located on North Stemmons Freeway in Dallas. Jahn operated as a sniper from an elevated position on the roof of a nearby immigration attorney’s office.
Federal authorities confirmed that Jahn fired indiscriminately at the ICE building, specifically targeting an unmarked transport van in the facility’s sally port where detainees were being processed. Three ICE detainees were struck by gunfire during the attack.
Two victims died from their injuries whilst the third remains hospitalised in critical condition. No ICE personnel or law enforcement officers sustained injuries during the incident.
Anti-ICE Motivation
FBI Director Kash Patel revealed that ammunition recovered near Jahn’s body contained anti-ICE messages scrawled on the casings. One unspent shell casing specifically bore the phrase “ANTI-ICE” etched along its side.
Patel stated that an initial review of evidence indicated an ideological motive behind the attack. The FBI classified the incident as an act of targeted violence rather than a random shooting.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem acknowledged an uptick in violence targeting ICE agents and facilities across the United States. The attack occurred just miles from Prairieland, Texas, where another individual ambushed a separate ICE facility two months earlier.
A magazine of rounds that features anti-ICE message
Who is Joshua Jahn?
Joshua Jahn grew up in Allen, Texas, and resided most recently in Durant, Oklahoma. Public records show his parents live in Fairview, a city in Collin County, Texas.
Jahn had previous involvement with law enforcement through drug-related charges. In 2016, he pleaded guilty to delivering marijuana in an amount between one-quarter ounce and five pounds, receiving a felony conviction and $3,500 fine. Court records from Collin County showed he faced similar charges in 2015.
His brother Noah described Joshua as “unique” but expressed surprise at his involvement in a politically motivated attack. Noah stated he was unaware of his brother having strong feelings about ICE and characterised him as not politically interested on either side.
Employment and Recent Circumstances
Jahn had worked in coding but was unemployed at the time of the attack. He planned to relocate to his parents’ property in Oklahoma before the shooting occurred.
Noah Jahn confirmed their parents owned a rifle and that Joshua knew how to operate firearms, though he disputed his brother’s marksmanship abilities. The family had participated in Boy Scouts activities during their youth.
Social Media and Political Associations
Online investigations revealed that Jahn’s deleted Facebook profile featured communist and Antifa imagery. His profile picture reportedly displayed an armed communist figure with hammer and sickle symbols alongside text reading “GLORIOUS EXPOSITION, COMRADE”.
Voter registration records indicated Jahn was registered as an independent and last participated in elections during November 2024. Despite the communist imagery on social media, his brother maintained that Joshua showed little political interest.
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Physical Description and Final Moments
State criminal records described Jahn as a white male standing six feet tall and weighing 210 pounds. He had brown hair and brown eyes and was born in Texas.
Dallas police found Jahn’s body on the immigration attorney’s office rooftop with a rifle beside him. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound as law enforcement officers approached his position.
Investigation and Response
The FBI leads the ongoing investigation with assistance from Dallas police and federal partners. Special Agent Joseph Rothrock of the FBI’s Dallas Field Office confirmed investigators are treating the case as targeted violence.
Homeland Security officials announced plans to review security protocols at federal immigration offices and detention centres following the Dallas shooting. The attack represents the latest in a series of violent incidents targeting ICE facilities across the nation.
Vice President JD Vance condemned the attack and called for an end to violence against law enforcement personnel. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton characterised the shooting as an attack on ICE and law enforcement generally.
The Department of Homeland Security emphasised that shell casings bearing anti-ICE messages demonstrated this was specifically an attack on ICE law enforcement. Secretary Noem attributed the violence to heightened rhetoric against immigration enforcement agencies.
