Dallas ICE Shooter’s Handwritten Notes Revealed

The 29-year-old man who opened fire on a Dallas ICE facility left behind handwritten notes at his home in Oklahoma that shared a motive for his attack – to terrorize ICE employees.

FBI and Department of Homeland Security officials gave an update on what they’ve learned in their investigation at a news conference held on Thursday afternoon.

Joshua Jahn's Motives

FBI Director Kash Patel and Dallas FBI Special Agent in Charge Joseph Rothrock released new information about the shooting suspect behind Wednesday morning’s attack.

In a post on social media, Director Patel said the FBI has been working around the clock to seize devices, exploit data, and process writings found at Joshua Jahn’s home and in his bedroom.

According to Patel, Jahn downloaded a document titled "Dallas County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management," which contained a list of Department of Homeland Security facilities.

He also conducted multiple searches of ballistics and the "Charlie Kirk Shot Video" between Sept. 23 and Sept. 24.

Jahn allegedly left handwritten notes behind that read in part, "Hopefully this will give ICE agents real terror, to think, ‘Is there a sniper with AP rounds on that roof?’"

"To include Jahn's own words in his handwritten notes, Jahn specifically intended to kill ICE agents. He fired at transport vehicles carrying ICE personnel, federal agents, and detainees. He also fired multiple shots into the windows of the office building, where numerous ICE employees do their jobs every day," Rothrock said during a news conference.

Both FBI officials said it’s clear Jahn engaged in a high degree of pre-attack planning.

"He searched for information about the office building and how to track ICE agents' locations. Jahn also acknowledged the potential for other casualties. He knew with a high likelihood ICE detainees would be transported that morning in the exact location where he was facing from his perch on a nearby rooftop. Jahn's attack did, in fact, result in the tragic death of one detainee and the injury to two other detainees," Rothrock said.

"He called the ICE employees people showing up to collect a dirty paycheck. He wrote that he intended to maximize his lethality against ICE personnel and to maximize property damage at the facility. He hoped to minimize any collateral damage or injury to the detainee and any other innocent people," said Nancy Larson, the Acting U.S. for the Northern District of Texas. "He also hoped his actions would give ICE agents real terror of being gunned down. And he did this to undo constant stress in their lives. He hoped his actions would terrorize ICE employees and interfere with their work, which he called human trafficking. And this what he did is the very definition of terrorism. Again, his notes reveal, ‘Yes, it was just me and my brain.’ And he said, ‘Good luck with the digital footprint.’ And of course, we take this to mean that he deleted evidence from his devices."

Jahn legally obtained the rifle that was used in the shooting in August.

He used a large ladder that was attached to his car to access the roof where the shooting took place.

Investigators also now believe he acted alone. At this point, there’s no evidence that he was a member of any specific group or entity.

Former U.S. Attorney for North Texas Paul Coggins, who is not involved in the case, also shared his expert opinion on Jahn's handwritten note.

"Federal law enforcement, particularly the Department of Justice, needs to be focusing on international terrorism and domestic terrorism and find out what motivates each of those different attacks on our country. And of the two between international terrorism and domestic terrorism, the one that scares me more is domestic terrorism. And so we have to start digging in. What motivates these people — whether they are on the left, whether they are on the right — to take these kinds of actions," he said.

Heroic ICE Agents

Several ICE and ATF agents reportedly helped detainees escape after they came under fire in the sally port. They’re being hailed as heroes.

"I want to address the heroism of our federal agents. Yesterday, while under fire, ICE agents and ATF agents who were also present in the facility, the sally port Area worked together to remove detainees from the vans and get them to safety while the bullets were flying. These agents were heroic, clearly willing to lay down their lives to save the lives of the detainees in their custody. And that's an extremely important point to make at this point in time. I want to express my deepest appreciation for the bravery of these law enforcement officers yesterday and every single day that they go out there to keep us safe," Larson said.

"Those ICE officers just showed the world who they really are – law enforcement officers who want the best for our country. That's ICE. Integrity. Courage. Excellence," added Marco Charles, the Dallas ICE field office director of Enforcement and Removal Operations.

ICE Security Heightened

Right now, additional security is stationed outside the ICE facility in Dallas.

Immigration check-ins at the facility are on hold until Monday. Those check-ins are a regular part of ICE operations as a way to keep track of migrants in and around North Texas.

The Department of Homeland Security is also increasing security at all ICE facilities across the country.

Dallas ICE Shooting

The FBI is investigating Wednesday morning's shooting at a Dallas ICE facility as an act of targeted violence.

Officials said a sniper on the roof of a nearby building fired indiscriminately at the detention center, hitting three detainees who were arriving in a transport van. One of those detainees was killed and two others were critically injured. No law enforcement officers were hurt.

Sources identified the shooter as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn, who had ties to North Texas and Oklahoma. Investigators said he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound as agents approached him.

While a motive for the shooting has not been released, bullets found at the scene had an anti-ICE message.

The Victims

The identities of the victims have not yet been released.

The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed at least one of the injured detainees is of Mexican nationality.

Who is Joshua Jahn?

Jahn had ties to North Texas and Oklahoma and federal investigators searched at least two homes connected to him.

He was linked to a home in Durant, Oklahoma, and a home in Fairview, which is in Collin County. Investigators were seen taking boxes out of one of the homes in Fairview.

Jahn does not appear to have a long criminal history. Court records show he hasn't been convicted of a violent crime, but was arrested in 2015 for marijuana possession in Collin County.

A spokesperson for Collin College in McKinney confirmed Jahn studied at the school at various times between 2013 and 2018.