Latest news with #BenjaminHanilSong
CBS News
3 days ago
- CBS News
Two people arrested after North Texas ICE detention facility attack helped Benjamin Song avoid capture, court documents say
New court documents allege that a man wanted for shooting a North Texas police officer had help hiding from authorities for more than a week. Police say Benjamin Hanil Song shot an AR-style rifle at three law enforcement officers, injuring one of them, during an alleged ambush at the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado late on July 4. The facility, south of Fort Worth, is being used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain undocumented immigrants. Song was able to evade law enforcement until he was arrested on July 15 at an apartment complex in North Dallas. On Thursday, Federal prosecutors revealed the arrests of John Phillip Thomas and Lynette Sharp for allegedly helping Song avoid capture. According to the complaint filed in federal court, Thomas picked up Song from the area around the Prairieland Detention Center on the night of July 5. Authorities said Song hid in nearby woods until he was picked up. After initially denying he knew Song, police said Thomas admitted the two were roommates until last month. Police said Thomas also admitted to buying clothes for Song on July 6. The next day, police said Sharp helped arrange transportation for Song from where Thomas was staying to another location. Court papers say Song, Thomas and Sharp were all members of group chats on the secure Signal app, on which the group allegedly discussed plans for the ambush on the Prairieland Detention Center. Thomas was arrested on July 10 and is currently in the Johnson County Jail, with a $500,000 bond. Sharp was arrested on July 13 and is in jail with a $250,000 bond.
Toronto Star
5 days ago
- Toronto Star
Former U.S. Marine Corps reservist charged in Texas immigration detention center shooting
A former U.S. Marine Corps reservist has been arrested and charged with attempted murder in connection with an attack at a Texas immigration detention center in which a police officer was shot in the neck, federal prosecutors said Tuesday. Benjamin Hanil Song, 32, is the latest person charged in the Fourth of July assault in which attackers dressed in black military-style clothing opened fire outside the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, southwest of Dallas, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas.
5 days ago
Former US Marine Corps reservist charged in immigration detention center shooting
A former U.S. Marine Corps reservist has been arrested and charged with attempted murder in connection with an attack at a Texas immigration detention center in which a police officer was shot in the neck, federal prosecutors said Tuesday. Benjamin Hanil Song, 32, is the latest person charged in the Fourth of July assault in which attackers dressed in black military-style clothing opened fire outside the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, southwest of Dallas, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas. Song, from Dallas, was arrested after a weeklong search and has been charged with three counts of attempted murder of federal agents and three counts of discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, the office said in a statement. He is accused of purchasing four of the guns linked to the attack, it said. U.S. District Court records do not list names of attorneys representing Song or scheduled court appearances. U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas did not immediately respond to an email asking whether Song has an attorney. The officer wounded in the attack has since been released from the hospital. Ten people, most of them from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, have previously been charged with attempted murder of a federal officer and discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. Another person has been charged with obstruction of justice for concealing evidence, while two others were charged with accessory after the fact for allegedly helping Song get away. If convicted, most of the defendants could face up to life imprisonment, while those charged with obstruction of justice and accessory after the fact would face lesser penalties if convicted, according to federal prosecutors. The shooting took place as President Donald Trump 's administration ramps up deportations. The attackers initially set off fireworks and spray-painted vehicles and a guard structure, including the words 'Ice Pig,' according to a criminal complaint. This was 'designed to lure correctional officers outside the facility,' according to U.S. Attorney's Office. Correctional officers called 911 and an Alvarado police officer responded and someone in the woods opened fire. Another person across the street fired 20 to 30 rounds at correctional officers who were unarmed after they walked out of the facility, according to the office's statement. After the group fled, sheriff's deputies stopped seven people about 300 yards (275 meters) from where the officer was shot, according to a criminal complaint. 'They were dressed in black, military-style clothing, some had on body armor, some were covered in mud, some were armed, and some had radios,' the complaint said. A sheriff's office detective also stopped a van leaving the area and found two AR-style rifles and a pistol, along with ballistic-style vests and a helmet, the complaint said. The driver, the only person in the van, said he had been at the detention center. He said he had met some people online and drove some of them to the detention center from Dallas to 'make some noise,' according to the complaint. Song's cellphone's location data shows it was near the detention center from about 11:30 p.m. on July 4 and throughout the day on July 5, according to a criminal complaint. 'Though Song escaped by hiding overnight after the attack, we were confident he would not remain hidden for long,' Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson said in a statement. 'The fourteen individuals who planned and participated in these heinous acts will be prosecuted, and we expect justice will be swift.'
San Francisco Chronicle
5 days ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Former US Marine Corps reservist charged in Texas immigration detention center shooting
A former U.S. Marine Corps reservist has been arrested and charged with attempted murder in connection with an attack at a Texas immigration detention center in which a police officer was shot in the neck, federal prosecutors said Tuesday. Benjamin Hanil Song, 32, is the latest person charged in the Fourth of July assault in which attackers dressed in black military-style clothing opened fire outside the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, southwest of Dallas, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas. Song, from Dallas, was arrested after a weeklong search and has been charged with three counts of attempted murder of federal agents and three counts of discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, the office said in a statement. He is accused of purchasing four of the guns linked to the attack, it said. U.S. District Court records do not list names of attorneys representing Song or scheduled court appearances. U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas did not immediately respond to an email asking whether Song has an attorney. The officer wounded in the attack has since been released from the hospital. Ten people, most of them from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, have previously been charged with attempted murder of a federal officer and discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. Another person has been charged with obstruction of justice for concealing evidence, while two others were charged with accessory after the fact for allegedly helping Song get away. If convicted, most of the defendants could face up to life imprisonment, while those charged with obstruction of justice and accessory after the fact would face lesser penalties if convicted, according to federal prosecutors. The shooting took place as President Donald Trump 's administration ramps up deportations. The attackers initially set off fireworks and spray-painted vehicles and a guard structure, including the words 'Ice Pig,' according to a criminal complaint. This was 'designed to lure correctional officers outside the facility,' according to U.S. Attorney's Office. Correctional officers called 911 and an Alvarado police officer responded and someone in the woods opened fire. Another person across the street fired 20 to 30 rounds at correctional officers who were unarmed after they walked out of the facility, according to the office's statement. After the group fled, sheriff's deputies stopped seven people about 300 yards (275 meters) from where the officer was shot, according to a criminal complaint. 'They were dressed in black, military-style clothing, some had on body armor, some were covered in mud, some were armed, and some had radios,' the complaint said. A sheriff's office detective also stopped a van leaving the area and found two AR-style rifles and a pistol, along with ballistic-style vests and a helmet, the complaint said. The driver, the only person in the van, said he had been at the detention center. He said he had met some people online and drove some of them to the detention center from Dallas to 'make some noise,' according to the complaint. Song's cellphone's location data shows it was near the detention center from about 11:30 p.m. on July 4 and throughout the day on July 5, according to a criminal complaint. 'Though Song escaped by hiding overnight after the attack, we were confident he would not remain hidden for long,' Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson said in a statement. 'The fourteen individuals who planned and participated in these heinous acts will be prosecuted, and we expect justice will be swift.'
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Former US Marine Corps reservist charged in Texas immigration detention center shooting
A former U.S. Marine Corps reservist has been arrested and charged with attempted murder in connection with an attack at a Texas immigration detention center in which a police officer was shot in the neck, federal prosecutors said Tuesday. Benjamin Hanil Song, 32, is the latest person charged in the Fourth of July assault in which attackers dressed in black military-style clothing opened fire outside the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, southwest of Dallas, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas. Song, from Dallas, was arrested after a weeklong search and has been charged with three counts of attempted murder of federal agents and three counts of discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, the office said in a statement. He is accused of purchasing four of the guns linked to the attack, it said. U.S. District Court records do not list names of attorneys representing Song or scheduled court appearances. U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas did not immediately respond to an email asking whether Song has an attorney. The officer wounded in the attack has since been released from the hospital. Ten people, most of them from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, have previously been charged with attempted murder of a federal officer and discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. Another person has been charged with obstruction of justice for concealing evidence, while two others were charged with accessory after the fact for allegedly helping Song get away. If convicted, most of the defendants could face up to life imprisonment, while those charged with obstruction of justice and accessory after the fact would face lesser penalties if convicted, according to federal prosecutors. The shooting took place as President Donald Trump 's administration ramps up deportations. The attackers initially set off fireworks and spray-painted vehicles and a guard structure, including the words 'Ice Pig,' according to a criminal complaint. This was 'designed to lure correctional officers outside the facility,' according to U.S. Attorney's Office. Correctional officers called 911 and an Alvarado police officer responded and someone in the woods opened fire. Another person across the street fired 20 to 30 rounds at correctional officers who were unarmed after they walked out of the facility, according to the office's statement. After the group fled, sheriff's deputies stopped seven people about 300 yards (275 meters) from where the officer was shot, according to a criminal complaint. 'They were dressed in black, military-style clothing, some had on body armor, some were covered in mud, some were armed, and some had radios,' the complaint said. A sheriff's office detective also stopped a van leaving the area and found two AR-style rifles and a pistol, along with ballistic-style vests and a helmet, the complaint said. The driver, the only person in the van, said he had been at the detention center. He said he had met some people online and drove some of them to the detention center from Dallas to 'make some noise,' according to the complaint. Song's cellphone's location data shows it was near the detention center from about 11:30 p.m. on July 4 and throughout the day on July 5, according to a criminal complaint. 'Though Song escaped by hiding overnight after the attack, we were confident he would not remain hidden for long,' Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson said in a statement. 'The fourteen individuals who planned and participated in these heinous acts will be prosecuted, and we expect justice will be swift.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
