On the evening of July 4, 2025, a coordinated and violent attack unfolded at the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, a facility operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The ambush left an Alvarado police officer wounded in the neck and sparked a massive law enforcement response that continues to reverberate across the region.
At the center of the investigation is 32-year-old Benjamin Hanil Song, a former U.S. Marine Corps reservist, who has been identified as the 12th suspect charged in connection with the attack. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) issued a Blue Alert for Song on July 9, describing him as armed and dangerous. Authorities say Song remains at large, with multiple charges pending, including three counts of attempted murder of federal agents and three counts of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. Each charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison.
According to officials from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, Song allegedly purchased four firearms used during the attack, including several AR-style rifles. One of these rifles was equipped with a binary trigger, a device that allows for rapid firing beyond standard semiautomatic rates. The attack was not a spontaneous outburst but a carefully planned assault involving at least 11 other suspects, all dressed in black military-style clothing, some wearing body armor and masks.
The assailants launched fireworks toward the detention center and vandalized vehicles and a guard post with graffiti bearing inflammatory messages such as "traitor" and "ICE pig." These tactics were reportedly designed to lure ICE correctional officers outside the facility, setting the stage for the ambush. Correctional officers called 911 to report the suspicious activity, but when an Alvarado police officer arrived on the scene, he was shot in the neck by a gunman positioned in the nearby woods. Another attacker fired 20 to 30 rounds from across the street at unarmed corrections officers who had stepped outside, escalating the violence of the encounter.
Following the attack, law enforcement agencies launched a swift and coordinated response. Nearly 70 officers converged on the scene, apprehending 10 suspects either that night or in the early hours of July 5. However, Song evaded capture, disappearing into the night. Investigators tracked Song’s cellphone near the facility until after dark on July 5, and a vehicle linked to him—a Mercedes-Benz registered to a relative—was found near the home of another suspect. Surveillance footage from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport showed a man believed to be Song driving that vehicle weeks before the attack.
Federal prosecutors have charged the other 11 suspects with the same counts as Song: attempted murder of federal agents and discharging firearms during a violent crime. Among those arrested are individuals from various Texas cities, including Dallas, Fort Worth, Waxahachie, College Station, Kennedale, and others. The suspects reportedly met online and coordinated their plans, with one participant, Meagan Morris, admitting to transporting some members from Dallas to Alvarado to "make some noise." The group also possessed insurrectionist materials, including flyers with slogans such as "Fight ICE terror with class war" and "Free all political prisoners," flags reading "Resist fascism, fight oligarchy," and tactical gear like Faraday bags, masks, goggles, and body armor.
An 11th suspect, Daniel Rolando Sanchez Estrada, was arrested on charges of tampering with evidence and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Investigators allege that he conspired with others to conceal and destroy evidence related to the attack, including moving vehicles and items from a suspect’s residence. Authorities also discovered training and planning documents for civil unrest in an apartment linked to Sanchez Estrada, containing anti-law enforcement, anti-government, and anti-Trump sentiments.
Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy E. Larson emphasized the seriousness of the crime, stating, "Though Song escaped the scene by hiding overnight, he will be relentlessly pursued until he is in custody." Larson described the ambush as a "planned attack with an attempt to kill ICE correction officers," highlighting the tactical nature of the assault. She detailed how graffiti was used to lure officers outside and how the shooters coordinated signals, such as one gunman using a flashlight to communicate with vandals, to execute the attack.
The wounded Alvarado officer was airlifted to Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth, treated, and released. No other employees at the detention center were harmed during the attack. The FBI’s Dallas field office is leading the ongoing investigation, working with ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Office, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Texas DPS, Alvarado Police Department, and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities have issued multiple warrants for Song’s arrest, including charges of aggravated assault on a public servant, aiding terrorism, and engaging in organized crime. The FBI has placed him on the Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives List and is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to his arrest and conviction. Additionally, Texas Crime Stoppers is offering up to $10,000 for tips. Governor Greg Abbott has condemned the attack, stating, "The targeted attacks against our federal law enforcement officers is a crime and must end. Criminals such as Benjamin Hanil Song will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." The Alvarado City Council is scheduled to meet in closed session to discuss the incident, with updates expected from the local police chief.
Song is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing approximately 150 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. He has ties to Dallas County, including the cities of Dallas and Addison. Law enforcement officials urge anyone with information about Song’s whereabouts to contact the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit tips online at fbi.gov/prairieland.
This incident underscores the dangers faced daily by law enforcement officers and the lengths some individuals will go to challenge federal authority. As the manhunt for Benjamin Hanil Song continues, authorities remain vigilant, determined to bring all those responsible for the July 4 attack to justice.
