Federal prosecutors have charged a former U.S. Marine Corps reservist in connection with a coordinated and violent attack on a Texas immigration detention facility that left a police officer seriously injured.
The suspect, 32-year-old Benjamin Hanil Song of Dallas, was arrested following a weeklong manhunt and now faces multiple charges, including attempted murder of federal agents and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
Song is the latest suspect identified in the brazen Fourth of July assault on the Prairieland Detention Center, located in Alvarado, Texas, just southwest of Dallas.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, Song is accused of purchasing four firearms linked to the attack and is now charged with three counts of attempted murder and three counts of discharging a firearm in connection to the violent incident.
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Authorities allege that the attack was carried out by a group dressed in black military-style clothing.
The group used fireworks and graffiti—including the phrase “Ice Pig” painted on vehicles and a guard structure—as a distraction to draw correctional officers outside the facility.
According to prosecutors, the purpose of this tactic was to “lure correctional officers outside the facility,” creating an opportunity to launch their ambush.
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Emergency services were called when the correctional officers responded to the disturbance, prompting an Alvarado police officer to arrive at the scene. As the officer approached, he was shot in the neck by a gunman hiding in nearby woods.
Another suspect situated across the street reportedly opened fire, releasing 20 to 30 rounds at unarmed correctional officers who had exited the facility.
The injured officer has since been released from the hospital, but the incident marks one of the most violent assaults on an immigration facility in recent years. A total of 14 people have now been implicated in the plot.
Ten suspects, most from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, face attempted murder and firearm-related charges.
One individual has been charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly concealing evidence, and two others are accused of being accessories after the fact by helping Song evade law enforcement.
If convicted, those charged with attempted murder and firearms offenses could face life sentences. Those charged with obstruction or accessory-related crimes face comparatively lighter penalties, prosecutors said.
While Senator Durbin attacks law enforcement officers, his own state provides sanctuary to criminal illegal aliens. The brave men and women of HSI that Durbin attacks are getting the worst of the worst off our streets. The Senator should be thanking them, not attacking them.… https://t.co/PE0o1dvVss
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) July 16, 2025
Song’s arrest came after authorities traced his movements through cellphone location data.
A criminal complaint states that his phone was near the detention facility starting around 11:30 p.m. on July 4 and remained in the vicinity into July 5.
Although Song reportedly escaped capture by hiding overnight, authorities remained confident in their ability to locate him.
“Though Song escaped by hiding overnight after the attack, we were confident he would not remain hidden for long,” said Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson.
“The fourteen individuals who planned and participated in these heinous acts will be prosecuted, and we expect justice will be swift.”
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, law enforcement made several arrests close to the scene. About 300 yards from where the officer was shot, deputies encountered seven individuals clad in tactical-style gear.
According to the 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.”
Separately, a sheriff’s detective stopped a van leaving the area and discovered two AR-style rifles, a pistol, ballistic vests, and a helmet inside.
The driver of the van, who was the sole occupant, admitted to being at the detention center and said he had connected with others online to “make some noise.”
As of now, court records do not show whether Song has retained legal representation, nor have any court dates been scheduled.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment further on his legal counsel status.
The attack comes amid heightened political tensions surrounding immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, which had stepped up deportation efforts.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of law enforcement personnel and the security of federal detention centers nationwide.
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