On July 4, 2025, a coordinated attack described as a “planned ambush” targeted law enforcement officers at the Prairieland Detention Center, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Alvarado, Texas. The incident left one Alvarado police officer wounded, sparking a high-profile investigation and manhunt. Among the twelve suspects charged in connection with the attack, Benjamin Hanil Song, a 32-year-old former U.S. Marine Corps reservist, emerged as a key figure. His mugshot was released by authorities following his capture on July 15, 2025, after an 11-day manhunt.
The attack began around 10:37 p.m. on July 4, when a group of 10 to 12 individuals, dressed in black military-style clothing and some wearing body armor, initiated a disturbance outside the Prairieland Detention Center. The group set off fireworks and vandalized vehicles and a guard structure with graffiti, including phrases like “ICE pig” and “traitor.” Authorities believe these actions were designed to lure unarmed ICE corrections officers out of the facility. As officers responded, an Alvarado police officer arrived on the scene and was shot in the neck by a suspect positioned in nearby woods. Another assailant, located across the street, fired approximately 20 to 30 rounds at the unarmed corrections officers. The wounded officer was flown to Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth, treated, and released, with expectations of a full recovery.
Investigators recovered significant evidence at the scene, including a jammed AR-style rifle equipped with a binary trigger, which allows for a faster rate of fire than a standard semiautomatic weapon. Additional items included masks, goggles, tactical gloves, two-way radios, a flag reading “Resist fascism, fight oligarchy,” and flyers with slogans such as “Fight ICE terror with class war” and “Free all political prisoners.” The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and federal authorities, including the FBI, quickly apprehended ten suspects near the scene, some covered in mud and others armed. An 11th suspect, Daniel Rolando Sanchez Estrada, was later arrested and charged with obstruction of justice and conspiracy for attempting to conceal evidence related to the attack.
Benjamin Hanil Song, identified as the 12th suspect, was charged with three counts of attempted murder of federal agents and three counts of discharging a firearm during a violent crime. Authorities allege that Song purchased four firearms used in the ambush, including three AR-style rifles and a pistol. Cellphone location data placed Song’s phone within several hundred meters of the detention center during the attack, and a vehicle registered to him was found near another suspect’s residence on July 6. Song, described as 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing approximately 150 pounds, and with ties to Dallas and Addison, was considered armed and dangerous, prompting a Blue Alert across Texas on July 9. The FBI offered a $25,000 reward, and Texas Crime Stoppers added up to $10,000 for information leading to his arrest.
The FBI, in collaboration with ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Alvarado Police Department, led the investigation. On July 15, 2025, Song was apprehended, marking the conclusion of the manhunt. His mugshot, released by the FBI, underscored the severity of the charges against him, which carry a potential sentence of up to life in prison if convicted.
The other ten suspects—Cameron Arnold, Savanna Batten, Nathan Baumann, Zachary Evetts, Joy Gibson, Bradford Morris, Maricela Rueda, Seth Sikes, Elizabeth Soto, and Ines Soto—face similar charges, including attempted murder of a federal officer, terrorism, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon against a peace officer. These individuals, hailing from Fort Worth, Dallas, Kennedale, Waxahachie, and College Station, were described as part of an organized group. One suspect, Bradford Morris, reportedly admitted to meeting others online with the intent to “make a little noise” at the facility. Court documents suggest that at least three of the suspects had prior involvement in protest-related activities, though the precise motivations and planning behind the attack remain under investigation.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Nancy Larson, emphasized the gravity of the incident, stating, “This was an egregious attack on federal and local law enforcement officers, and it is part of an increasing trend of violence against them.” The attack is noted as the fifth assault on law enforcement officers in the Northern District of Texas in 2025. Authorities continue to investigate potential connections between the suspects and any inmates at the facility, as well as whether the incident reflects a broader trend of violence targeting law enforcement.
The Alvarado City Council met in a closed session on July 10 to discuss the incident, with the local police chief providing updates. The attack has drawn significant attention, with Texas Governor Greg Abbott condemning the violence and affirming that “criminals such as Benjamin Hanil Song will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” As the investigation progresses, the focus remains on ensuring justice for the coordinated assault on the Prairieland Detention Center, a facility that has become a flashpoint in the ongoing national debate over immigration enforcement.
