FBI Reveals Dallas ICE Office Shooter Conducted Extensive Pre-Attack Research on Immigration Facilities and Agents

The FBI director revealed Thursday that the suspected gunman in the Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office attack had conducted extensive research prior to the shooting. According to Director Kash Patel, 29-year-old Joshua Jahn searched for applications in August that could track ICE agents' locations and downloaded a list of local Department of Homeland Security facilities.

Patel also disclosed via social media that investigators discovered Jahn had researched video footage of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's assassination before carrying out the attack in Texas. The evidence collected thus far "indicates a high degree of pre-attack planning," Patel stated.

Officials have indicated that the attack appeared specifically targeted at ICE, which serves as the primary enforcement agency for President Donald Trump's stringent immigration policies.

A handwritten note found in Jahn's residence read: "Hopefully this will give ICE agents real terror, to think, 'Is there a sniper with AP rounds on that roof?'" according to Patel, though he did not provide visual documentation of this evidence.

The attacker fired "indiscriminately" at the northwest Dallas field office early Wednesday morning from a nearby building's rooftop. The shooting resulted in one detainee's death and left two others severely wounded. No law enforcement personnel were injured at the facility, which processed rather than housed detainees.

Authorities reported that the suspect died by suicide following the attack. An unfired bullet recovered near his body had "ANTI-ICE" inscribed on it, as shown in a photograph released by Patel on Wednesday.

This incident occurred just two weeks after Charlie Kirk, co-founder of conservative student group Turning Point USA and a close Trump ally, was fatally shot by a rooftop sniper during an event in Utah, intensifying concerns about escalating violence across the United States.

Kirk's murder ignited a flurry of political accusations, with Trump attributing the violence to the left before any suspect was apprehended. The incident heightened worries among Trump's critics that the Republican president might use such violence to justify targeting his perceived political opponents.

Following Wednesday's attack, Trump and members of his administration immediately placed blame on left-wing activists, despite no released evidence suggesting the suspect had connections to any external groups or individuals.

On his Truth Social platform, Trump accused "Radical Left Democrats" of inciting anti-ICE violence by "constantly demonizing Law Enforcement, calling for ICE to be demolished, and comparing ICE Officers to Nazis." He announced plans to sign an executive order targeting "these domestic terrorism networks."

Democratic House leaders issued a joint statement condemning the attack and calling for reduced divisiveness. "The political and ideologically-motivated violence in America has reached a breaking point this year," they stated. "We need leaders who bring the country together in moments of crisis – and that is what is required right now."

Political violence has seen an increase in the United States in recent years, with notable attacks targeting figures across the political spectrum, including Trump himself, who survived two assassination attempts during his 2024 presidential campaign.

Noah Jahn, the 30-year-old brother of the Dallas shooting suspect, spoke with Reuters on Wednesday as Joshua Jahn's name began circulating online in connection with the incident. Noah, who resides in McKinney, Texas—approximately 30 miles north of Dallas and the same area where his brother lived—expressed surprise at the events.

"I didn't know he had any political intent at all," the older brother told Reuters, stating he was unaware that his sibling harbored any negative sentiments toward ICE.