A tragic shooting unfolded at the Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility when 29-year-old Joshua Jahn opened fire on three migrants before turning the weapon on himself. Officials confirmed that Jahn died at the scene after the rampage.
Authorities recovered shell casings marked with the words “anti-ICE” near his body. Investigators also disclosed that at least one bullet carried the same message, raising questions about whether the attack was politically motivated.
This is the second rooftop attack in two weeks targeting ICE offices, prompting heightened security concerns around immigration facilities in Texas.
Who Was Joshua Jahn?
Jahn, a North Texas native, had a troubled past that included a 2016 conviction for marijuana possession in Collin County, where he was fined and ordered to perform community service.
Raised in Allen, Texas, Jahn came from a politically mixed family but was described by relatives as largely uninterested in politics. His brother Noah told NBC that Joshua never expressed hostility toward ICE and that the attack came as a complete shock.
“He didn’t have strong feelings about ICE as far as I knew,” Noah said, describing his brother as “unique” but never violent.
Jahn briefly studied mechanical engineering at the University of Texas before moving to Collin Community College to pursue computer science. He later earned a certificate from Imagine Solar in Austin and did short-term coding work before becoming unemployed.
Car and Unusual Messaging
Investigators also discovered a blue Toyota Corolla linked to Jahn. On its rear quarter panel, officers found a faded printout of a map highlighting U.S. regions repeatedly exposed to radioactive fallout from nuclear tests in Nevada during the 1950s and 1960s. The map carried the message: “Radioactive fallout from nuclear detonations have passed over these areas more than 2x since 1951.”
Motive Still Unclear
The FBI has not confirmed Jahn’s motive. However, FBI Director Kash Patel released an image of a bullet with “anti-ICE” scrawled on it, calling the attack “a despicable, politically motivated act.”
“These attacks against law enforcement are not isolated. Only two months ago, an individual ambushed another ICE facility in Prarieland, Texas. It has to end. The FBI and our partners will pursue anyone who targets law enforcement to the fullest extent of justice,” Patel said in a statement.
Wider Implications
The Dallas attack adds to growing concerns about politically motivated violence in the United States. It also underscores the risks faced by federal officers and migrants at immigration facilities, where ideological tensions have increasingly spilled into violence.
For now, officials continue to piece together Jahn’s personal history, searching for answers to what drove him to carry out such a deadly and disturbing act.
