Ten Individuals Charged with Attempted Murder of Federal Officers and Firearms Offenses in Alvarado Police Officer Shooting

Ten individuals have been charged for their roles in the shooting of an Alvarado police officer at the Prairieland Detention Center.

Today’s announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson, Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas FBI R. Joseph Rothrock, and Enforcement Removal Operations Dallas Acting Field Office Director Joshua Johnson.

According to a criminal complaint filed today, the defendants, dressed in black military-style clothing, began shooting fireworks at the facility, as part of an organized attack.

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.  Those include:

•    Cameron Arnold
•    Savannah Batten
•    Nathan Baumann
•    Zachary Evetts
•    Joy Gibson
•    Bradford Morris
•    Maricela Rueda
•    Seth Sikes
•    Elizabeth Soto
•    Ines Soto

As outlined in the complaint, officers photographed the graffiti, flyers, flag, body armor, and magazines containing ammunition:

“Make no mistake, this was not a peaceful protest,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy E. Larson. “This was an ambush on federal and local law enforcement officers.  This increasing trend of violence against law enforcement will not be tolerated in the Northern District of Texas.  Those who use violence against law enforcement officers will be found and prosecuted using the toughest criminal statutes and penalties available.”

“The incident at the Prairieland Detention Center underscores the dangers that officers face daily. We want to thank all the law enforcement agencies that promptly responded and assisted in apprehending the suspects,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “The FBI stands with our partners and pledges that violence against law enforcement will not be tolerated. We are committed to thoroughly investigating this weekend’s incident and will hold those responsible accountable for threatening the safety of law enforcement.”

“Violence, threats of violence, and attempts of vandalism at our ICE Facilities will not deter our officers at ICE from fulfilling their duties, said Josh Johnson, Acting ERO Dallas Field Office Director. “This type of vigilante lawlessness is emblematic of the dangers federal, state, and local law enforcement officials face every day.”

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence.  All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.  If convicted, the defendants face a minimum penalty of ten years in federal prison and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

The investigation was conducted by the Dallas FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Office (ICE ERO), Homeland Security Investigations, ATF, Texas Department of Public Safety, Alvarado Police Department, and Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Gatto and Shawn Smith are prosecuting the case.