Journalism of Courage
Three people have been shot at an Immigration and U.S. Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Dallas, and the shooter has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said.
“It could be employees, it could be civilians that were visiting the facility, it could be detainees,” Lyons told CNN on Wednesday. “At this point, we’re still working through that.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said details were still emerging but confirmed there were “multiple injuries and fatalities” at the field office. She added that the motive remains unclear but noted a recent uptick in attacks targeting ICE agents.
Dozens of emergency vehicles were seen along a highway near the facility. Traffic cameras showed six lanes of a normally busy freeway completely empty, with cars and semi-trailers stopped at an interstate exit. The Dallas Fire-Rescue Department said it was dispatched at 6:41 a.m. after a report of a shooting at or near the immigration office. Department spokesperson Jason L. Evans described the incident as active and ongoing.
The shooting comes amid a series of recent attacks on immigration and law enforcement facilities in Texas. On July 4, attackers dressed in black military-style clothing fired at the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, southwest of Dallas, injuring a police officer in the neck. At least 11 people have been charged in connection with that attack.
Just days later, on July 7, a man identified as Ryan Louis Mosqueda opened fire with an assault rifle on federal agents leaving a U.S. Border Patrol facility in McAllen, Texas. A responding police officer was injured before authorities shot and killed Mosqueda. Police later recovered additional weapons, ammunition, and backpacks from his vehicle.
ICE and Homeland Security officials have not provided further details on the Dallas shooting.
