FBI Nabs Former Marine Reservist Accused in Texas ICE Facility Ambush
What to know
- A former Marine reservist was arrested in North Dallas in connection with a planned July 4 ambush at an Alvarado ICE detention center that shot and wounded a police officer.
- The suspect faces three counts of attempted murder of federal agents and three counts of discharging a firearm during a violent crime.
- Ten additional suspects were previously arrested in connection with the ambush, which involved coordinated vandalism, fireworks and gunfire in order to lure and target officers.
By Jessica Schladebeck
Source New York Daily News
An alleged fugitive and former Marine reservist wanted in connection with a “planned” Fourth of July “ambush” at an ICE detention center in Texas — where one officer was shot in the neck — has been arrested, authorities confirmed.
Benjamin Song was taken into custody by FBI agents at an apartment complex in North Dallas, nearly a week after the Texas Department of Public Safety issued a Blue Alert calling for information that could lead to his arrest, the Johnson County District Attorney and the FBI said Tuesday.
He faces three counts of attempted murder of federal agents and three counts of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
The charges stem from an ambush at the Prairieland Detention Center earlier this month.
Chaos erupted outside the facility in Alvarado on July 4 around 10:37 p.m., when a group of people dressed in all black — some of them sporting Kevlar vests, others armed with AR-style rifles — arrived at the facility, according to Nancy Larson, acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas.
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11 Suspects Accused in 'Planned Ambush' at Texas ICE Detention Center
- Armed suspects wearing tactical gear targeted the Prairieland ICE detention facility and used fireworks to draw officers outside, where the suspects opened fire, wounding an Alvarado police officer.
They allegedly vandalized vehicles with the words “traitor” and “ICE pig” before shooting off fireworks, which “seemed to be designed to draw U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel outside the facility,” Larson said.
It was enough to draw a pair of unarmed corrections officers from the detention center, as well as a response from the local police department, including one officer who was shot through the neck. Alvarado Police Chief Teddy May told WFAA that the unnamed officer is recovering, but “lucky to be alive.”
One assailant allegedly shot approximately 20 to 30 rounds at the unarmed correctional officers, according to the complaint. Larson said the gunfire came from the nearby woods.
Song is accused of purchasing four of the firearms used to carry out the ambush, and his is only the latest arrest. Authorities previously arrested 10 others, including Cameron Arnold, Savannah Batten, Nathan Baumann, Zachary Evetts, Joy Gibson, Bradford Morris, Maricela Rueda, Seth Sikes, Elizabeth Soto and Ines Soto.
They’re each facing charges of attempted murder and three counts of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a violent crime, according to the complaint.
With News Wire Services
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