Ten members of an armed mob accused of attacking an ICE detention center on July 4th have been charged by the Department of Justice with attempted murder.
The assailants allegedly donned military-style gear, including tactical vests, and launched fireworks at the Prairieland Detention Center near Dallas before spraying bullets at a local cop and unarmed federal agents, according to the criminal complaint filed on Monday.
One suspect unloaded 20 to 30 rounds at two detention center workers, prosecutors said, and a police officer for the town of Alvarado took a gunshot to the neck area.
The injured officer was flown from the scene to a hospital and was released after treatment, Alvarado cops said.
The ten suspects each face three counts of attempted murder and three counts of discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.
The crew allegedly staged their “organized attack” near a wooded area outside the facility; they launched salvos of fireworks and spray-painted cars parked at the building, the complaint claims.
When the cop – responding to a 911 call from detention center personnel – arrived at the scene, one opened fire on him from the nearby woods, hitting him once.
Meanwhile, another suspect allegedly unloaded 20 to 30 rounds on two unarmed federal agents who had left the building.
The attackers fled the scene, allegedly leaving assault rifles and loaded magazines behind.
Several of them were armed, wearing body armor, and had two-way radios when Johnson County sheriff’s deputies and other law enforcement personnel finally rounded them up, authorities said.
Officers found cans of spray paint and flyers stating, “FIGHT ICE TERROR WITH CLASS WAR!” and “FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS,” and a flag stating, “RESIST FACISM – FIGHT OLIGARCHY” in the suspects’ possession or in their vehicles, the department said.
Photos released with the court complaint show “traitor” and “ice pig” spray-painted on official vehicles.
“Make no mistake, this was not a peaceful protest,” said Acting US Attorney Nancy E. Larson. “This increasing trend of violence against law enforcement will not be tolerated in the Northern District of Texas.”
The “increasing trend” includes a separate incident in Oregon on the same day, when demonstrators clashed with federal officers at the Portland ICE facility after President Trump signed his “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” into law.
“We are closely monitoring the attacks on DHS detention facilities in Prairieland, TX, and Portland, OR, and are coordinating with the [US Attorney offices] and our law enforcement partners,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on X.
The ten individuals charged for the Texas attack are Cameron Arnold, Savannah Batten, Nathan Baumann, Zachary Evetts, Joy Gibson, Bradford Morris, Maricela Rueda, Seth Sikes, Elizabeth Soto, and Ines Soto.
