
News Link • Investigations
Attempted Murder Charges for Left-Wing Extremists Involved in Planned Ambush on ICE Officers...
• by Margaret FlavinOn Monday, acting U.S. Attorney Nancy Larson announced that attempted murder charges are being brought against ten individuals involved in a coordinated attack on ICE officers in Alvarado, Texas.
The individuals are alleged to be part of an Antifa cell from North Texas.
According to the criminal complaint, the defendants, dressed in black military-style clothing, began shooting fireworks at the facility as part of an organized attack.
A statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Texas shares:
After approximately 10 minutes of convening, one or two individuals broke off from the main group and began to spray graffiti on vehicles and a guard structure in the parking lot at the facility. An Alvarado police officer responded to the scene after correctional officers called 911 to report suspicious activity. When the Alvarado police officer arrived, one alleged defendant positioned in nearby woods shot the officer in the neck area. Another alleged assailant across the street fired 20 to 30 rounds at unarmed correctional officers who had stepped outside the facility.
As alleged in the complaint, AR-style rifles were found at the scene. The assailants fled from the detention center but were stopped by additional law enforcement officers. Some defendants were wearing body armor, some were armed, and some had two-way radios. A total of twelve sets of body armor were found during searches of vehicles associated with the defendants, on their persons, and in the area around the Prairieland Detention Center.
Additionally, officers found spray paint, flyers stating, "FIGHT ICE TERROR WITH CLASS WAR!" and "FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS," and a flag stating, "RESIST FACISM – FIGHT OLIGARCHY." One of the alleged attackers had cell phones inside a "Faraday bag," used to block phone signals and commonly used by criminal actors to try to prevent law enforcement from tracking their location.
Ten individuals were charged in one complaint with three counts of attempted murder of federal agents and three counts of discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.
The statement identifies ,Cameron Arnold, Savannah Batten, Nathan Baumann, Zachary Evetts, Joy Gibson, Bradford Morris, Maricela Rueda Seth Sikes, Elizabeth Soto, and Ines Soto.
Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy E. Larson noted, "Make no mistake, this was not a peaceful protest."