Notes written by the person suspected of opening fire on an immigration facility in Texas indicate he was targeting ICE agents and did not intend to harm detainees, acting US attorney for the Northern district of Texas Nancy Larson said.
One detainee was killed and two others critically injured after a suspected sniper opened fire at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) centre in Dallas on Wednesday, officials said.
Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, Ms. Larson identified the shooter as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn, adding that notes he had written had been found at his home.
She said he intended to maximize lethality against ICE personnel and to maximize property damage at the facility.
He hoped to minimize any collateral damage or injury to the detainees and any other innocent people, she added.
It is clear from these notes that he was targeting ICE agents and ICE personnel. The victims have not yet been identified.
FBI director Kash Patel mentioned on social media that evidence indicates a high degree of pre-attack planning.
Patel noted one of the handwritten notes reportedly said: Hopefully this will give ICE agents real terror, to think, 'is there a sniper with AP rounds on that roof?
At the news conference on Thursday, Larson said the shooter very likely acted alone.
She described the initial attack: That morning gunshots sprayed the length of the building, the windows, and law enforcement vans that were in the sallyport area, adding that detainees were hit.
The notes included a game plan of the attack and showed the shooter viewed ICE employees as people showing up to collect a dirty paycheck.
Larson asserted that the actions taken by the shooter define terrorism, as he intended to interfere with the work of ICE employees.
No evidence of group affiliation was found, but the shooter expressed hatred towards the federal government. Larson commended the ICE and other federal agents for their bravery during the attack.
FBI special agent Joe Rothrock labeled the incident as a targeted, ambush-style attack on law enforcement, emphasizing the intention to kill ICE agents.
Marcos Charles, ICE field office director, emphasized the need to cease violent rhetoric against ICE personnel, praising the officers for their swift action in removing detainees from danger amidst ongoing gunfire.
