The 29-year-old man who opened fire on an ICE facility in Dallas, Joshua Jahn, wrote “ANTI-ICE” on one of his bullets, as the FBI announced soon after the “politically motivated” attack. Law enforcement officials later revealed that Jahn left a note saying he hoped the attack would “give ICE agents real terror” and inflict “maximum lethality against ICE personnel.”
Mainstream media outlets nonetheless portrayed Jahn’s motive as “unclear” and criticized Republicans, namely President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, who said otherwise in the wake of the shooting. Here’s a roundup of how those outlets covered the attack.
Washington Post
Suspect identified in Dallas ICE facility shooting that killed a detainee
“President Donald Trump wrote on TruthSocial that he had been briefed on the shooting and vowed to crack down on ‘deranged radical leftists,’ though officials have not revealed the shooter’s motive.
“Like other administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Trump framed law enforcement as the victims of the Dallas attack.”
New York Times
After Dallas Shooting, a Rush to Score Political Points Before the Facts Are In
“On Wednesday, Mr. Vance and others leaned on a post by F.B.I Director Kash Patel that showed a clip of rifle-caliber ammunition, with one casing having a message on it that read ‘ANTI-ICE’ in what appeared to be blue writing. The actual motivation behind messages written on the bullets in both Mr. Kirk’s assassination and Wednesday’s killing are still not known, and The Times has not confirmed details shedding light on the ammunition casing in Dallas.”
NPR
1 dead, 2 injured in shooting at Dallas ICE detention facility
“Authorities haven’t indicated any specific motive. But they did release a picture of five unspent bullet casings found at the scene, and one had the words anti-ICE.”
“Immigration and immigrants have been at the center of the political divide, often portrayed in a negative light. And yesterday, some immigrants became victims of this political rhetoric.”
Axios
ICE shooting sparks partisan blame game before facts confirmed
“FBI Director Kash Patel posted on X Wednesday that unspent bullet casings found at the scene included one etched with the word ‘anti-ICE.’ … Neither local nor federal authorities have indicated what the etched message could mean, or how it connects to what motivated the shooter.”
“The rush to point fingers before local police confirmed a motive or the identity of the victims mirrors the rush to assign blame following Charlie Kirk’s death, and reflects the fears of rising political violence in the U.S.”
Associated Press (also published by ABC News)
Motive of shooter who officials say opened fire at Dallas ICE facility remains unclear
“Investigators were seeking to determine the motive.
“FBI Director Kash Patel posted a photo on social media showing a bullet found at the scene with ‘ANTI-ICE’ written on it. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered more security at ICE facilities across the U.S., according to a post by the DHS on the social platform X.
“The attack was the latest high-profile targeted killing in the U.S., coming two weeks after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed by a shooter on the roof of a building at Utah Valley University and as heightened immigration enforcement has prompted backlash against ICE agents and fear in immigrant communities.”
NBC News
What we know about the Dallas ICE facility shooter
“Vance called Jahn a ‘violent left-wing extremist.’ Authorities have yet to release an official motive. The FBI special agent in charge in Dallas, Joe Rothrock, said the attack was ‘targeted violence.'”
“A bullet found near the shooter had the words ‘anti-ICE’ written on it, according to the FBI. Other recent shooters, including those who assassinated Charlie Kirk and killed UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson, have also engraved messages on bullets.”
PBS
What we know so far about the deadly Dallas ICE facility shooting
“Authorities didn’t provide details about the suspect in Wednesday morning’s briefing and law enforcement is still working to isolate a motive for the shooting.
“FBI director Kash Patel posted a photo on X that he said were the unused bullet casings recovered at the scene. ‘ANTI-ICE’ can be seen in blue writing on one of the casings in the photo.”
“Before Wednesday’s briefing on the shooting, [Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi] Noem took to social media to acknowledge that details were still emerging, adding ‘we know that our ICE law enforcement is facing unprecedented violence against them.’
“Noem claimed in a later statement without providing evidence that this ‘vile attack was motivated by hatred for ICE.'”
The Hill
Motive sought in Dallas ICE facility shooting
“Federal and local authorities are still working to determine a motive after a shooter opened fire on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Dallas on Wednesday.”
“At least one unused bullet recovered by federal investigators was allegedly inscribed with the words ‘ANTI-ICE.’
“FBI Director Kash Patel said Wednesday that the initial probe points to an ‘ideological motive,’ but acknowledged that the investigation is ongoing.”
“Politicians and commentators were quick to point fingers across the aisle, debating whether the left or right is more to blame for a perceived rise in political violence. The shooting comes just two weeks after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated in Utah.
“President Trump directed his ire at Democrats in a Truth Social post, arguing the left has fueled hostility toward ICE and other law enforcement agencies.”
“Democrats have pushed back on the comments, accusing the vice president and others of hand-picking information to share in order to ‘control the narrative.'”
CNN
“A motive for the shooting has not been identified, though FBI Director Kash Patel said ‘an initial review of the evidence shows an ideological motive behind this attack.’
“The FBI director shared a photo of shell casings he said were found at the scene, including one with ‘ANTI-ICE’ written on it with blue ink.”
“President Donald Trump and other Republicans have blamed the left for violence, referencing the photo Patel shared.”
“Vice President JD Vance also claimed — without evidence — that the attack was politically motivated.”
MSNBC
Law enforcement analyst Tom Manger
“You can’t just assume by what was written on that shell casing that that’s necessarily his motivation. He could have been doing that thinking it was funny, trying to put law enforcement on the wrong track.”
