Coordinated Ambush Strikes Alvarado ICE Facility
Early in the morning on July 4, 2025, the usual stillness at the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, was shattered when a group of armed assailants launched a coordinated attack targeting officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). According to investigators, this wasn’t some desperate act—it was an organized ambush with chilling intent: the targeted killing of federal law enforcement.
Shots erupted across the facility as multiple suspects opened fire. The incident left an Alvarado Police officer hospitalized with serious gunshot wounds, facing what authorities call a "long road to recovery." Just hours later, local and federal authorities scrambled to piece together what they call a “brazen effort” to harm public safety officers doing their jobs at a federal facility.
The Suspects: Eleven Arrested, One on the Run
The scale of this ambush is unlike most violent crimes against law enforcement in Texas. By July 8, ten people were in custody with charges of attempted murder of federal officers and various firearms offenses. Within another 24 hours, the FBI announced the arrest of an eleventh individual connected to the shooting. Their names haven’t all been released, but officials described the group as well-organized, operating with deadly precision.
The hunt is still on for the twelfth suspect, Benjamin Hanil Song, age 32. Federal warrants accuse him of attempted murder of a federal officer and firing a weapon during a violent federal crime. The Texas Department of Public Safety quickly issued a Blue Alert across the state, signaling that a dangerous individual with a history of attacks on officers was at large and could strike again. Song is described as 5 feet 6 inches, weighing 150 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. He was last seen in Alvarado, near Sunflower Lane, running from the scene as authorities closed in.
The FBI is pushing hard for the public’s help. They’re offering a $25,000 reward for any information that leads to Song’s arrest and conviction. Officials say tips have come in, but so far, he continues to evade law enforcement. With the stakes this high, the manhunt stretches across state lines, with federal agents working alongside local police and specialized units.
The Texas Municipal Police Association has been vocal about the seriousness of this crime, pointing out the dangers officers face daily and the growing concern over organized violence against law enforcement. The injured officer remains hospitalized, and colleagues report that recovery will be a long, painful process—physically and emotionally.
The investigation remains active, with authorities sifting through evidence and interviewing those connected to the suspects. Agency leaders stress that the charges—attempted murder and weapons violations—carry heavy sentences, and those responsible will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
For now, the story isn’t finished. The region remains uneasy, watching for updates and the possible capture of Song. The FBI encourages anyone with information—no matter how small—to call their hotline at 800-225-5324, reminding Texans that their tips could make all the difference in ensuring another violent incident doesn’t happen again.
