Trump Admin Drops Hammer On Suspects Who Attacked ICE Facility

Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Nancy Larson, announced on Monday that several individuals will be facing significant federal charges, including attempted murder, related to a July Fourth ambush that resulted in a police officer being shot in the neck outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility.

The incident occurred late on July 4 when officers from the Alvarado Police Department responded to reports of an armed individual acting suspiciously near the ICE facility in Johnson County. As the officers approached, they were unexpectedly met with gunfire from multiple individuals, which resulted in one officer being struck in the neck.

The injured officer was airlifted to a nearby hospital in Fort Worth and has since been discharged. Several suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident. Authorities suspect that the group deliberately disabled security cameras and attempted to divert officers away from the ICE facility before opening fire.

On Monday, Larson announced that criminal charges have been filed against 10 individuals in relation to the organized attack.

“We are here to inform you that late at night on July 4th, specifically at approximately 10:37 PM at the Prairieland Ice Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, 10 to 12 individuals dressed in black military-style attire began discharging fireworks and committing acts of vandalism at the facility,” Larson stated during a press conference.

“This was part of a coordinated attack. Today, my office has charged 10 individuals with three counts of attempted murder of a federal officer. Each of the 10 individuals is also charged with three counts of discharging a firearm in connection with a violent crime. Each defendant faces a mandatory prison sentence of 10 years and potentially up to life imprisonment,” she added.

An additional suspect has been charged with obstruction of justice and conspiracy for allegedly attempting to conceal and destroy evidence related to the attack. If found guilty, the individual could face a maximum of 10 years in federal prison.

Larson characterized the attack as a “premeditated ambush aimed at killing ICE corrections officers,” further stating, “Let there be no doubt, this was not a so-called peaceful protest. It was, in fact, an ambush.” Prior to the shooting, the suspects reportedly ignited fireworks and defaced the area with graffiti in an effort to entice ICE employees out of the building, according to officials.

“The graffiti included terms such as traitor, ice pig, and other vulgarities,” Larson remarked. “Subsequently, there was a 911 call from the facility. Two unarmed corrections officers stepped outside to engage with the vandals. One of the gunmen used a flashlight to signal to the vandals.”

The gunman who allegedly fired at the officers was not among the vandals but was instead located in a wooded area outside the facility. “Another assailant, positioned across the street and far from the corrections officers, discharged 20 to 30 rounds at these unarmed corrections officers,” Larson informed reporters.

Following the shooting, police arrested seven suspects, some of whom were equipped with body armor, while others possessed two-way radios. During their investigation, authorities also discovered a flag that stated “resist fascism, fight oligarchy” and flyers that proclaimed “fight ICE terror with class war,” and “free all political prisoners.”