Introduction to the Incident
Federal officials named Joshua Jahn, a 29-year-old unemployed college dropout from Collin County, as the suspect who opened fire at the Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, killing a detainee and wounding others before fatally shooting himself. Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy Larson told reporters Thursday Jahn acted alone in what she described as “the very definition of terrorism.” Investigators found a collection of notes at the suspect’s home, Larson said, which indicated he intended to “maximize lethality” against ICE agents— not target detainees. No law enforcement was injured in the shooting.
Motivations Behind the Attack
He hoped his actions would give ICE agents “real terror,” induce stress in their lives and interfere with their work, which he called human trafficking, Larson said. Notes described a hatred for the federal government and called ICE employees “people showing up to collect a dirty paycheck.” The motivations behind Jahn’s attack seem to stem from a deep-seated hatred for the federal government and its agencies, particularly ICE.
Investigation and Evidence
Public records show Jahn owned a 2016 Toyota parked outside a building near the ICE office, located in the 8100 block of North Stemmons Freeway. Police believe Jahn “indiscriminately” fired rounds from a long-range rifle from the roof of the nearby building in a targeted, ambush-style attack. Bullets hit the facility and transport vans outside the office. Larson said Jahn’s car was seen with a large ladder hours before the shooting.
Background of the Suspect
Noah Jahn, the suspect’s brother, told NBC News that Joshua Jahn was not interested in politics and had not voiced opposition to ICE. He said his brother was unemployed and planning to move onto their parents’ property in Oklahoma. Noah Jahn did not respond to a phone call from The Dallas Morning News requesting comment. Joshua Jahn registered as an Independent in Oklahoma, voting records show.
Reaction from Law Enforcement
Joseph Rothrock, the Federal Bureau of Investigation agent in charge of the Dallas field office, said the gunfire Wednesday is being investigated as “an act of targeted violence.” Investigators say the words “ANTI-ICE” were written on an unspent round found Wednesday morning at the scene of the shooting.
Further Investigation
Federal officials confirmed Jahn legally obtained the rifle he used in the shooting in August. In a post on Facebook made in 2022, the suspect’s mother criticized Texas’ gun laws, accusing state leaders of not addressing gun violence and failing residents. Sharon Jahn quoted a song by Jacques Brel in one post. “If we only have love / We can melt all the guns / And then give the new world / To our daughters and sons,” the post stated. The family lives near Allen, the site of a 2023 mass shooting at a shopping mall where a gunman fatally shot eight people and injured others.
FBI Analysis
FBI Director Kash Patel said in a post on X that the FBI has been analyzing devices, data and writings recovered from the home of the suspect. Patel said the subject, who he did not identify by name, downloaded a document containing a list of Department of Homeland Security facilities, searched several times for “ballistics” and for the video of Charlie Kirk’s assassination in the days before the shooting. Last month, he searched several apps that track the movements of ICE agents, all of which Patel said showed a “high degree” of preplanning in the attack.
Handwritten Note
Patel also said investigators found a handwritten note saying, “Hopefully this will give ICE agents real terror, to think, ‘is there a sniper with AP rounds on that roof?” Authorities are investigating Jahn’s background. Larson said Jahn likely deleted evidence from his devices, and investigators did not find evidence of membership to specific groups.
Suspect’s Background
Jahn’s LinkedIn profile listed volunteer work with the Boy Scouts of America, now known as Scouting America. Collin College, a community college with campuses across Collin County, confirmed that he attended the school at various times between Spring 2013 and 2018.
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