Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy Larson announced Monday that several individuals will face serious federal charges—including attempted murder—in connection with a July Fourth ambush that left a police officer shot in the neck outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility.
The attack unfolded late on July 4 when Alvarado Police Department officers responded to reports of an armed individual behaving suspiciously near the ICE facility in Johnson County. As officers approached, they were suddenly met with gunfire from “multiple individuals,” striking one officer in the neck.
The wounded officer was airlifted to a nearby hospital in Fort Worth and has since been released. Multiple suspects were arrested in connection with the attack. Authorities believe the group intentionally disabled security cameras and attempted to lure officers away from the ICE facility prior to opening fire.
On Monday, Larson announced criminal charges against 10 individuals in connection with the “organized” attack.
“We’re here to tell you that late at night on July 4th, Friday night at approximately 10.37pm at the Prairieland Ice Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, 10 to 12 individuals dressed in black military-style clothing began shooting fireworks and engaging in acts of vandalism at the facility,” Larson told reporters at a press conference.
“And this was part of an organized attack. Today, my office has charged 10 individuals with three counts of attempted murder of a federal officer. Each of the 10 are also charged with three counts of discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. Each of these defendants faces a mandatory prison term of 10 years and up to life in prison,” she continued.
An additional suspect has been charged with obstruction of justice and conspiracy for allegedly attempting to conceal and destroy evidence linked to the attack. If convicted, the individual faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
Larson described the attack as a “planned ambush with the intent to kill ICE corrections officers,” adding, “Make no mistake, this was not a so-called peaceful protest. It was indeed an ambush.” Before the shooting, the suspects allegedly set off fireworks and vandalized the area with graffiti in an attempt to lure ICE employees out of the building, officials said.
“The graffiti had such words as traitor, ice pig, and other profanity,” Larson said. “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.”
The gunman who allegedly shot at officers was not with the vandals, but was instead positioned in a wooded area outside the facility. “Another assailant who was across the street, nowhere near the corrections officers, shot 20 to 30 rounds at these unarmed corrections officers,” Larson told reporters.
After the shooting, police apprehended seven suspects, some of whom were wearing body armor, while others were found with two-way radios. 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.”
