New Details Emerge in Shooting at Dallas ICE Office–What to Know

The shooter left notes stating he wanted to spark ’real terror‘ in ICE agents who he accused of involvement in ’human trafficking.'

A Dallas Police Department vehicle sits near the scene of a shooting near a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Dallas, Texas, on Sept. 24, 2025. A detainee was killed and two were wounded in a sniper attack Wednesday on a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in the Texas city of Dallas, officials said. Aric Becker/AFP

More details emerged about the deadly shooting that took place at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Dallas, Texas.

The Dallas facility was “riddled with gunfire,” as acting U.S. Attorney Nancy Larson described it when speaking to the press on Sept. 25.

One detainee was killed, and two more were critically wounded. The shooter also died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound shortly after he attacked the facility.

Here are more details about the shooting.

Months of Planning

The shooter was identified by law enforcement as Joshua Jahn, 29, of Fairview, Texas.

After securing the scene, the FBI began investigating and found the shooter, bullets that contained the words “ANTI-ICE,” and other evidence that led them to execute search warrants related to Jahn.

Joseph Rothrock, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Dallas field office, told reporters on Sept. 25 that investigators discovered that Jahn took part in a “significant” pre-attack planning, including research on the facility and how to track ICE agents.

The agent also said the 8-millimeter bolt-action rifle used in the attack was bought in August, but planning had likely been going on for months.

FBI Director Kash Patel posted an update to X, saying that Jahn downloaded a document “Dallas County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management” containing a list of DHS facilities.

He is also said to have conducted searches about ballistics, the Charlie Kirk assassination, and other related issues, and gathered information that indicated a significant amount of planning.

Believed to Have Acted Alone

At this time, it is believed that Jahn acted alone. He was not known to have a membership in any particular groups, and he left evidence stating that he wasn’t joined by any partners.

According to Larson, when the FBI was searching for information on Jahn, they found several notes, including one that stated, “Yes, it was just me and my brain.”

He went on to taunt investigators, saying, “Good luck with the digital footprint,” leading officials to believe that information was deleted before the attack was carried out.

While the sentiments in Jahn’s notes were “definitely anti-ICE,” Larson said, investigators haven’t found any negative writings about any other agency.

He did, however, express negative sentiments about the federal government in general.

Note Points to ‘Real Terror’ Motivation

According to Larson, one note stated that Jahn wanted to “maximize lethality” against personnel who worked at the ICE facility and minimize collateral damage against detainees.

“The tragic irony for his evil plot here is that there was a detainee who was killed and two other detainees that were injured,” Larson said.

The attorney said that Jahn stated he hoped his actions would give ICE agents “real terror” and induce “constant stress” in their lives and “terrorize” ICE employees and interfere with their work, which he called “human trafficking.”

Used ICE Tracking Apps

According to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations acting Executive Associate Director Marcos Charles, the shooter used ICE tracking apps designed to spot, track, and locate ICE officers.

The director noted that those who design these apps ought to understand the potential threats they pose to officers: “It’s no different than giving a hitman the location of their intended target, and this is exactly what we saw happen in Dallas yesterday.”

ICE and other officials have warned that these apps could lead to violence.

Agents Pulled Detainees From Van as Firing Started

ICE and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives agents, who were also on the scene, moved quickly to remove detainees out of harm’s way when the firing started.

The agents were called “heroic” by Larson, who said it was an “extremely important point to make.

“I want to express my deepest appreciation for the bravery of these law enforcement officers yesterday and every single day that they go out there to keep us safe,” the attorney said.

Similarly, Charles pointed out that officers ran “back into danger” to save detainees: “Those ICE officers just showed the world who they really are, law enforcement officers who want the best for our country. That’s ICE: integrity, courage, excellence.”

Security at ICE Facilities Bolstered in Response

Facilities targeted in this and earlier ICE attacks are now the focus of heightened security, Charles said.

Details about what measures will be increased were not released by officials who cited concerns about giving away information that could compromise operational security.

Charles pointed out the gravity of the increase in attacks, saying, “Violent rhetoric has led to over 1,000 percent increase in assaults on ICE officers, and it has to stop.”