The FBI is investigating a shooting at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office on Wednesday morning in Dallas as an act of “targeted violence.” Multiple people were shot, and at least two people were killed.
Three illegal immigrants in federal custody were shot in a sniper-style attack, in what authorities described as a shooting that appeared to have been aimed at ICE officers, not detainees. The suspect died from a self-inflicted wound, according to authorities.
Joseph Rothrock, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Dallas field office, told reporters late Wednesday morning that it was too early to specify the exact motive of the deceased shooter but that early indicators suggested it was an attack on federal law enforcement.
“What I can also share with you is that early evidence that we’ve seen from rounds that were found near the suspected shooter indicate messages that are anti-ICE in nature,” Rothrock said. “I can confirm at this time that the FBI is investigating this incident as an act of targeted violence.”
FBI Director Kash Patel shared on X after the press conference that rounds found on scene near the suspect’s body had the words “anti-ICE” written on the object.
“While the investigation is ongoing, an initial review of the evidence shows an idealogical motive behind this attack (see photo below). One of the unspent shell casings recovered was engraved with the phrase ‘ANTI ICE.’ More updates will be forthcoming,” Patel wrote in a post to X Wednesday afternoon.
This morning just before 7am local time, an individual fired multiple rounds at a Dallas, Texas ICE facility, killing one, wounding several others, before taking his own life. FBI, DHS, ATF are on the ground with Dallas PD and state authorities.
While the investigation is… pic.twitter.com/SMOyxiKLqA
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) September 24, 2025
Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux said dispatchers received a 9-1-1 call at 6:40 a.m. CT requesting assistance from an officer. Police learned that four people, including the gunman, had been shot.
“While we’re not releasing identities of any victims at this time, what I can confirm for you is no members of law enforcement were hurt during this attack,” Rothrock said.
The three struck by bullets are believed to be illegal immigrants who had been recently taken into custody by ICE and brought into that field office for initial booking before being transported to a detention facility.
Patel, as well as other law enforcement officials on scene in Dallas, called for the attacks against law enforcement to stop. Two months ago, a gunman attempted to ambush a different ICE building in Texas.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) noted that the shooting was exactly two weeks after the politically motivated assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot by a sniper while speaking at a college campus event in Utah on Sept. 10.
MULTIPLE PEOPLE WOUNDED AND SHOOTER FOUND DEAD ON ROOFTOP IN DALLAS ICE FACILITY SHOOTING
ICE has been tasked with carrying out the “largest-ever” decoration operation by the Trump administration.
Since President Donald Trump took office in January, the agency has deported 400,000 illegal immigrants and reported earlier this week that an additional 1.6 million people illegally residing in the country had voluntarily departed the country since then.