Unemployed Gamer: What Is Known About the Dallas ICE Shooting Suspect

Shooting at ICE Center in Dallas

Suspect: Unemployed Gamer

Motives Still Under Investigation

An armed attack shook a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing center in Dallas, Texas.

The alleged perpetrator, unofficially identified as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn, opened fire from a nearby rooftop with a rifle, killing one immigrant and leaving two other detainees seriously wounded.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that the suspect fired “indiscriminately at the ICE building, including at a van at the security gate.”

Shortly after, Jahn took his own life, authorities confirmed.

The FBI classified the Dallas ICE shooting as “a targeted act of violence” against the agency, after finding bullets inscribed with hostile messages toward ICE, including one labeled “ANTI-ICE.”

Dallas ICE Shooting: What We Know About the Suspect

Who Was Joshua Jahn, the Dallas ICE Shooting Suspect?

According to his brother, Noah Jahn, they grew up together in Allen, Texas, and were Boy Scouts as children.

Noah told NBC News that his brother was unemployed, had previously worked in programming, and had planned to move to their parents’ property in Oklahoma.

Two childhood friends remembered him as a young man passionate about video games and internet culture.

One friend said: “This is a complete shock to me. Josh was the least political person I knew in high school. He just liked playing video games.”

Joshua Jahn’s Steam profile showed over 10,000 hours of gameplay in titles like Team Fortress 2, Left 4 Dead 2, and Rust.

In the past, Jahn faced legal issues related to marijuana and worked for a time at a cannabis farm in Washington.

The farm’s owner, Ryan Sanderson, described him as calm: “He didn’t seem to argue with anyone or cause trouble. He kept a low profile and just worked.”

Were There Political Motivations?

The case has sparked debate. Vice President JD Vance declared there was evidence the attack had political motivations, labeling Joshua Jahn as a “far-left violent extremist.”

However, his brother Noah insisted: “He had no interest in politics and never shared any stance on ICE with his family.”

Other acquaintances said he occasionally expressed opinions about immigration, but also noted he was “strongly against gun violence.”

Official Reactions

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stated: “This vile attack was motivated by hatred toward ICE.”

Meanwhile, President Trump accused “radical left Democrats” of demonizing law enforcement and creating a hostile environment toward ICE.

Authorities continue investigating what drove a man seemingly disconnected from politics and immersed in digital life to commit a deadly attack on an ICE center.

The conflicting versions between family, officials, and friends paint a complex picture of the suspect, with many questions still unanswered.

Was this Dallas ICE shooting the isolated act of a troubled individual, or does it point to something larger?

SOURCE: Univision / Newsweek