Suspects used graffiti, firearms, body armor in Fourth of July ambush outside North Texas ICE facility, officials say
Officials said Monday that a planned ambush led to an officer being shot in the neck outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Alvarado, Texas, in the late-night hours of the Fourth of July.
Nancy Larson, the acting U.S. Attorney, said the planned ambush was not a peaceful protest but was designed to draw ICE personnel outside the facility.
"This was an egregious attack on federal and local law enforcement officers, and it is part of an increasing trend of violence against them," said Larson.
Officer shot when ICE facility ambushed on Fourth of July
Just before 11 p.m., the Alvarado Police Department said it was called to the 1200 block of Sunflower Lane, outside the ICE Prairieland Detention Facility, on a report of a suspicious person. When officers arrived, they saw a person who appeared to be carrying a firearm, according to a news release.
Alvarado police said that when one of the first responding officers tried to engage with the person, an unknown number of suspects opened fire. At least one bullet struck an officer in the neck, police said.
The injured officer was flown from the scene to a Fort Worth hospital, was treated and later released, Alvarado police said.
According to Alvarado police, several armed suspects were taken into custody after trying to flee the scene.
10 suspects could face life in prison
Ten suspects have been charged with three counts of attempted murder of a federal officer and three counts of discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. Cameron Arnold, Savannah Batten, Nathan Baumann, Zachary Evetts, Joy Gibson, Bradford Morris, Maricela Rueda, Seth Sikes, Elizabeth Soto and Ines Soto each face a mandatory 10 years, up to life in prison sentence.
An 11th suspect has been charged with obstruction of justice and conspiracy to allegedly attempt to conceal and destroy evidence connected to the ambush. That suspect faces up to 10 years in prison.
Suspects used graffiti, firearms, and Faraday bags
Larson said the suspects used graffiti to lure ICE corrections officers out of the facility.
"The graffiti had such words as traitor, ice pig, and other profanity," said Larson. "Then there was a 911 call from the facility. Two unarmed corrections officers went outside to speak with the vandals. One of the gunmen signaled using a flashlight to the vandals."
Larson said the alleged gunman who shot the responding officer was not with the suspected vandals, but positioned in the woods. When the Alvarado officer arrived, the "assailant who was positioned in the woods shot him in the neck area," Larson said.
"Another assailant who was across the street, nowhere near the corrections officers, shot 20 to 30 rounds at these unarmed corrections officers," said Larson.
After the suspects fled, Johnson County Sheriff's Office deputies stopped seven suspects, some wearing body armor, others covered in mud, some were armed and others had two-way radios, Larson said.
During their search, investigators also found a flag that read "resist fascism, fight oligarchy" and fliers that read "fight ICE terror with class war," and "free all political prisoners."
Larson said investigators also found Faraday bags, which are designed to block electromagnetic signals such as cell phone data. She said criminals use Faraday bags "because they think it prevents law enforcement officers from finding their location."
Additional searches over the weekend uncovered masks, goggles, tactical gloves, more body armor, a cache of nine additional weapons, spray paint, fireworks and insurrectionist material, authorities said.
"This incident highlights the dangers that local law enforcement face on a daily basis, and the charges announced reflect the seriousness of the crimes," said Joe Rothrock, the special agent in charge of the Dallas FBI field office.
The investigation was conducted by the Dallas FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Office, Homeland Security Investigations, ATF, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Alvarado Police Department, and the Johnson County Sheriff's Office.
