“Jahn deliberately attempted to kill ICE agents by firing at their vehicles, federal officers, and detained migrants,” said Joseph Rothrock, head of the FBI’s Dallas field office, on September 25.
In the early hours of September 24, Jahn climbed onto a rooftop near an ICE office and opened fire with a rifle at the facility and a van transporting migrants. The ambush left one person dead and two seriously wounded, though none of the victims were ICE employees. Jahn fatally shot himself after the attack.
Investigators later found notebooks at Jahn’s home indicating he expected not to survive and sought only to “spread terror.” One note read: “I acted alone.” Other writings contained sharp criticism of ICE and expressed sympathy for detainees. Officials confirmed no links to outside groups or networks.
“His writings focused solely on hatred of ICE,” said Nancy Larson, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas. FBI Director Kash Patel added that Jahn had carefully planned the assault, gathering intelligence on Dallas security facilities. Hours before the shooting, he researched ballistics and political assassinations. In one note, he wrote: “I hope ICE will know real fear, always wondering if a sniper with armor-piercing rounds is waiting on a rooftop.”
Family members said Jahn had studied at Collin College and briefly worked on a cannabis farm in Washington state. They were stunned by the anti-ICE messages police uncovered. “He never showed political interest,” his brother said.
The attack comes amid a surge in violence against ICE personnel. In July, suspects lured staff into an ambush near a Dallas detention center, injuring a police officer. Days later, another gunman opened fire on a Border Patrol facility in McAllen, Texas.