A sniper killed at least one migrant and wounded several others in a shooting at a Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility, then shot himself dead, police say.
The bloodbath unfolded at the facility in the Texas city shortly after 7am CT Wednesday morning, when the gunman targeted migrants on an unmarked transport van.
The Dallas Police Department told Daily Mail in a statement that two people were taken to hospital with gunshot wounds, and one victim died at the scene.
The victims were ICE detainees, and no law enforcement were injured in the shooting.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted on X that there had been ‘multiple victims and fatalities.’ Fox4 reports that two of the victims died, however authorities have not yet raised the official death toll.
The sniper, who police sources described as a white man, shot himself dead as law enforcement agents closed in on him.
Officials said the gunman opened fire ‘from an elevated position’ as migrants were inside the transport van. He believed to have been found on the roof of a nearby immigration attorney’s office, WFAA reported.
The identities of the sniper and victims have not been released and Noem said investigators were still probing a possible motive.
Noem said on X: ‘While we don’t know motive yet, we know that our ICE law enforcement is facing unprecedented violence against them. It must stop. Please pray for the victims and their families.’
One person was killed and two more were wounded in a shooting an ICE facility in Dallas on Wednesday morning
The bloodbath unfolded at the facility in the Texas city shortly after 7am CT, and a huge police presence descended on the scene
The sniper, who police sources described as a white man, shot himself dead as law enforcement agents closed in on him
Although the sniper appeared to target migrants in ICE custody, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wrote on X that the shooting represented an attack on ICE and law enforcement.
‘We will continue to do everything in our power to combat the alarming increase of targeted attacks against ICE and all law enforcement by evil, twisted individuals,’ Paxton wrote.
Vice President JD Vance added: ‘The obsessive attack on law enforcement, particularly ICE, must stop. I’m praying for everyone hurt in this attack and for their families.’
ICE Director Todd Lyons said he was putting ICE facilities on a higher alert status in response to the shooting.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said in a statement that his state ‘fully supports ICE’, and vowed to step up deportations as a result of the shooting.
‘This assassination will NOT slow our arrest, detention, & deportation of illegal immigrants. We will work with ICE & the Dallas Police Dept. to get to the bottom of the assassin’s motive,’ Abbott wrote.
The ICE facility (seen in a stock image) has been frequently targeted by pro-immigration demonstrators in recent months
Last month, a man identified as Bratton Dean Wilkinson, 36, was arrested after making a bomb threat against the immigration processing center
The ICE facility has been frequently targeted by pro-immigration demonstrators in recent months.
Last month, a man identified as Bratton Dean Wilkinson, 36, was arrested after making a bomb threat against the immigration processing center.
Wilkinson allegedly arrived at the entrance on August 25 and claimed to have a bomb in his backpack, and showed a ‘detonator’ on his wrist. He is now facing charges of making terroristic threats.
In a nearby ICE facility in Alvarado, Texas, another attack took place on July 4 where 10 people were arrested for shooting at law enforcement officers.
Armed assailants with tactical gear were charged with terrorism and aggravated assault for the attack, which officials said at the time was intended to disrupt the ICE facility’s operations.
This is a developing story and will be updated as information is confirmed.
