Several suspects are in custody after a police officer was injured in a shooting at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Alvarado, Texas, in the late night hours of the Fourth of July, officials said.
Just before 11 p.m., the Alvarado Police Department said it was called to the 1200 block of Sunflower Lane, outside the ICE Prairieland Detention Facility, on a report of a suspicious person. When officers arrived, they saw a person who appeared to be carrying a firearm, according to a news release.
Alvarado police said that when one of the first responding officers tried to engage with the person, an unknown number of suspects opened fire. At least one bullet struck an officer in the neck, police said.
The injured officer was flown from the scene to a Fort Worth hospital, was treated and later released, Alvarado police said.
According to Alvarado police, several armed suspects were taken into custody after trying to flee the scene with the help of local agencies, including the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.
At this time, the suspects’ names have not been released, and police are investigating the motive.
The individuals launched fireworks in an apparent effort to lure law enforcement, the source said.
Justice Department closely monitoring incident
The Justice Department said Saturday morning it was “closely monitoring the attacks on DHS facilities.”
“We are closely monitoring the attacks on DHS detention facilities in Prairieland, TX, and Portland, OR, and are coordinating with the USAOs and our law enforcement partners,” Justice Department Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a social media post. “The Department has zero tolerance for assaults on federal officers or property and will bring the full weight of the law against those responsible.”
Alvarado police are asking anyone with information concerning the incident to call 817-790-0919.
Camilo Montoya-Galvez
contributed to this report.
