The July shooting at a Texas Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility is now believed to have been carried out solely by Hanil Song, 32. Federal investigators and court testimony indicate Song acted alone, though 17 defendants were indicted in connection with the case.
The U.S. District Court in Fort Worth, Texas held a preliminary hearing on September 30, ruling prosecutors had sufficient grounds to proceed against Song and seven co-defendants. According to court records, a man in a green mask fired at the ICE detention center, injuring an officer with the Alvarado Police Department.
FBI Special Agent Clark Wueson testified that Song was the ringleader and directly fired shots. DNA matching Song was found on the green mask recovered at the scene, and some co-defendants identified him as the leader. Prosecutors also presented body camera footage of the injured officer, which captured Song shouting to accomplices, “Get to the rifles.”
The indictment was initially based on claims that two shooters fired 20 to 30 rounds. However, a revised version now states only one shooter was involved and that 11 shell casings were recovered. Wueson testified that investigators first believed there were two gunmen but later confirmed all shots came from a single location.
Prosecutors further disclosed Song’s group chat messages, where he wrote, “Police are not prepared for multiple rifles. If several weapons are used, they will retreat.” Co-defendants placed responsibility on Song in court, while defense attorneys argued their clients only intended to stage a protest against ICE.
Song allegedly opened fire outside the ICE Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas on July 4 before fleeing. He was soon placed on Texas’s “Top 10 Most Wanted” list and became the subject of a nationwide manhunt. He was arrested about a week later. Song has been indicted on charges of attempted murder of federal agents, discharge of a firearm in relation to violent crime, illegal firearm purchase, and terrorism.
BY HANKIL KANG [kang.hankil@koreadaily.com]
