The group allegedly attacked the Prarieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, late July Fourth. Credit: Google Maps / Street View

The U.S. The Justice Department on Tuesday charged 10 individuals with attempted murder in connection with what prosecutors described as an armed July Fourth ambush on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in North Texas.

Those charged now face three counts of attempted murder of federal agents and three counts of discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence in connection to the attack. Those individuals include Cameron Arnold, Savanna Battemn, Nathan Baumann, Zachary Evetts, Joy Gibson, Bradford Morris, Marciela Rueda, Seth Sikes, Elizabeth Soto and Ines Soto, according to federal authorities.

In a tweet, Gov. Greg Abbott called the assailants “insane” and said that additional state charges could be filed in connection with the incident.

“I bet these idiots will plead insanity because they would have to be insane to do this in Texas,” the Republican governor said. “The state will collaborate with the Feds & if we can press state charges we will. We want these thugs to never see the light of day again.”

The alleged assault on the detention center happened late on July Fourth, when the group, dressed in black military style clothing, began shooting fireworks at the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, about 30 miles south of Fort Worth, according to federal prosecutors.

After roughly 10 minutes, two of the assailants broke off from the main group and began tagging vehicles and a guard structure in the detention center’s parking lot, the feds’ complaint alleges.

The graffiti included the words “ICE pig” and “traitor,” according to photos provided by the DOJ.

Graffiti defaces a car at the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas. Credit: Courtesy of the U.S. Attorney General's Office Northern District of Texas

When a responding police officer arrived at the scene, he was shot in the neck while another assailant fired 20 to 30 rounds at unarmed correctional officers who were standing outside the ICE holding facility, prosecutors said.

The injured officer is expected to survive, TV station Fox 4 reports.

The suspects, some of whom were wearing body armor and had two-way radios, tried to flee the scene but were apprehended by responding law enforcement, according to authorities. Investigators also found AR-style rifles at the scene, the complaint states.

Investigators also found flyers that said “FIGHT ICE WITH CLASS WAR!” and “FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS,” according to the complaint. Authorities also found a flag with the slogan “RESIST FACISM-FIGHT OLIGARCHY.”

A flag found at the scene of an alleged ambush at a North Texas ICE facility over Independence Day weekend includes the message “Resist fascism.” Credit: Courtesy of the U.S. Attorney General's Office Northern District of Texas

“Make no mistake, this was not a peaceful protest,” acting U.S. Attorney Nancy Larson said in a statement. “This was an ambush on federal and local law enforcement officers. This increasing trend of violence against law enforcement will not be tolerated in the Northern District of Texas. Those who use violence against law enforcement officers will be found and prosecuted using the toughest criminal statutes and penalties available.”

The attack in North Texas is the second ambush against federal agents in Texas in recent days.

Police shot and killed Michigan man Ryan Louis Mosqueda Monday after he opened fire on a U.S. Border Patrol facility with an assault rifle. Three people were injured in the incident.

Josh Johnson, the acting ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Field Office director, said that the Trump Administration’s mass deportations will continue despite the recent actions.

“Violence, threats of violence, and attempts of vandalism at our ICE Facilities will not deter our officers at ICE from fulfilling their duties,” Johnson said in a statement. “This type of vigilante lawlessness is emblematic of the dangers federal, state, and local law enforcement officials face every day.”

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This article appears in Jun 26 – Jul 9, 2025.

Michael Karlis is a multimedia journalist at the San Antonio Current, whose coverage in print and on social media focuses on local and state politics. He is a graduate of American University in Washington,...