DALLAS, Texas — A devastating act of violence unfolded early Wednesday morning at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Dallas, leaving one man dead and two others in critical condition. Authorities have identified the gunman as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn, who later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound as police closed in.
The shooting took place around 6:40 a.m. at the ICE office on 8101 North Stemmons Freeway, near Interstate 35E, when Jahn took a sniper position on a nearby rooftop and opened fire with a legally purchased 8mm bolt-action rifle.
Victims Identified
Officials confirmed that the attack struck a transport van carrying several individuals.
- Norlan Guzman-Fuentes, 37, of El Salvador, was fatally shot. The Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled his death a homicide.
- Miguel Ángel García, a Mexican national, remains on life support. The Mexican Consulate General in Dallas has contacted his family to provide support.
- José Andrés Bordones-Molina, a Venezuelan national, is hospitalized in critical condition.
ICE confirmed that others in the van were unharmed. Law enforcement credited the quick and heroic actions of ICE agents and ATF officers, who ran into active gunfire to extract survivors. Officials said these efforts “likely saved more lives.”
Suspect’s Motive and Planning
Investigators say Jahn was targeting ICE officers rather than individuals being transported. Ammunition recovered near his rooftop sniper position bore anti-ICE messages.
At his home, investigators uncovered handwritten notes mapping out his plan of attack. According to Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy Larson, Jahn explicitly wrote that he aimed to “maximize lethality against ICE personnel” while attempting to minimize harm to others.
Authorities say Jahn had been preparing for weeks. Evidence shows he:
- Downloaded a Dallas County Homeland Security document with facility information.
- Searched online for ballistics data and a “Charlie Kirk shot” video between September 23–24.
- Used apps in August to track ICE personnel.
- Drove with a ladder attached to his car, believed to have been used to access the rooftop.
“This was the very definition of terrorism,” Larson said. “And the tragic irony is that while he claimed not to want to harm those in ICE custody, his actions did exactly that.”
No ICE Officers Injured
No ICE officers were injured in the attack, though the emotional toll has been significant. A joint investigation is now underway, led by the Dallas Police Department, FBI, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), and ATF.
“This suspect was previously arrested with a loaded weapon while fleeing federal law enforcement,” said Sam Olson, ICE ERO St. Paul Field Office Director, emphasizing that Jahn’s writings showed a clear intent to terrorize ICE personnel.
A Quiet Past, a Radicalized Future
Friends and classmates from Jahn’s youth expressed shock. Many described him as quiet, introverted, and uninterested in politics.
“Josh was the least political person I knew in high school,” one former classmate recalled. “When people started talking about politics, he’d just say, ‘guys, shut up, can we just play Halo?’”
Jahn attended Allen Independent School District from kindergarten through 12th grade and later enrolled briefly at UT Dallas. Investigators are still working to understand how he shifted from a quiet student to a radicalized attacker with anti-ICE sentiments.
Officials Respond
The Clark County Sheriff’s Office, FBI Dallas Field Office, and federal partners are continuing to investigate Jahn’s access to firearms and whether anyone else was involved. At this stage, authorities believe he acted alone.
“This case is a sobering reminder of the threats our federal law enforcement officers face every day,” Larson said. “While this shooter claimed his target was ICE, his actions instead devastated the lives of three individuals who were caught in the crossfire.”
Dallas remains shaken by the shooting, which left Norlan Guzman-Fuentes dead, Miguel Ángel García fighting for his life, and José Andrés Bordones-Molina critically injured. The tragedy has not only sparked questions about security but also highlighted the unpredictable dangers federal agencies face in today’s climate.
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