Dallas ICE facility shooter left notes detailing "terror" plans, officials say
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Local and federal authorities have been part of the investigation into Wednesday's shooting. Photo: Aric Becker/AFP via Getty Images
The gunman who attacked a Dallas immigration detention facility this week was targeting federal agents and left notes detailing his plan to cause "real terror" on immigration enforcement, officials said Thursday.
The big picture: One detainee was killed and two others were critically injured while they were restrained in a transport van, officials said at a Thursday briefing. Federal officials called the attack an act of terrorism.
State of play: Federal officials have not identified the person who was killed nor the two others who remained hospitalized Thursday.
- The victims' families were being contacted by their countries' consulates, said Joe Rothrock, the special agent in charge of the Dallas FBI field office during Thursday's briefing.
- The shooter, identified by authorities as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn, did not have any membership or affiliation with any specific groups and "very likely acted alone," Nancy Larson, acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas, said during a Thursday briefing.
- Investigators searched the suspect's home, car and devices and found a "collection" of notes about his hatred of ICE, Larson said.
Zoom in: The shooting occurred at the ICE field office in Dallas, which is one of the busiest temporary holding facilities in the country, per the Washington Post.
- The facility has processed more than 8,300 immigrants between the start of President Trump's term in January and late July, according to the Post. The center doesn't typically hold people for more than a few hours.
- About one-third of the immigrants have criminal convictions, a lower percentage than at other large detention facilities, per the Post's analysis.
Catch up quick: Footage showed the suspect arriving at the ICE office, just off I-35E, with a ladder on his car, Larson said. He used the ladder to reach the rooftop of a nearby building, where officials said he fired shots at the facility and transport vans.
- Though restrained, the uninjured detainees were able to get out of the van during the shooting, officials said.
- The suspect used an 8mm bolt action rifle he legally bought in August, per Rothrock.
- The suspect was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on the roof.
What they're saying: Investigators said they found notes at the suspect's home that they believe he wrote that said, "Yes, it was just me." His notes also said he wanted to "maximize lethality" on immigration officers.
- "It seems that he did not intend to kill the detainees or harm them," Larson said.
What we're watching: The FBI is requesting anyone with information about the shooting contact Bureau at 1-800-CALL-FBI or by submitting details online.
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