FBI: Shooting of ICE offices could have resulted in ‘assassination of a federal employee’

UPDATE: SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) -The FBI says the shootings of two Northeast Side buildings housing Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices were a targeted attack and they’re investigating the case as an assault on a federal official.

Shots were fired into the ICE offices at the Jefferson Bank high rise and another building across Loop 410 near Harry Wurzbach Road around 3 this morning, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs told reporters there’s no doubt that the person or persons responsible were aiming for the federal offices.

“All the shots that we have found are on the floors where ICE had offices,” said Combs, adding that there’s no question it was “a targeted attack.”

Combs said federal employees were there when shots shattered the windows, and “by the Grace of God, had the bullets gone two inches in another direction, we would be here today talking about the murder of a federal official.”

The FBI is handling cases involving threats against ICE facilities in other parts of the country. Combs said to fire at a federal building is not a protest, it’s an act of violence.

“In this case, it’s an act of violence against the federal government that could have resulted in the assassination of a federal employee,” said Combs.

Daniel Bible, ICE ERO San Antonio Field Office Director, believes the national debate over ICE and immigration with the media fanning the flames led Monday’s shooting.

“This attack at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Field Office in San Antonio is completely without justification,” said Bible. “Political rhetoric and misinformation that various politicians, media outlets and activist groups recklessly disseminate to the American people regarding the ICE mission only serve to further encourage these violent acts. ICE officers put their lives on the line each and every day to keep our communities safe. This disturbing public discourse shrouds our critical law enforcement function and unnecessarily puts our officers’ safety at risk.”

The FBI has no suspects as they continue searching for clues. A man was taken into custody by San Antonio police following the shootings early this morning, but Combs says he was not linked to this case. Anyone with information on the shootings is asked to contact the local FBI office.

 

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SAN ANTONIO KTSA News) – Federal agents are investigating a shooting that shattered windows at a Northeast side building housing Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices.

Shots were fired at the Jefferson Bank high rise building on Loop 410 near Harry Wurzbach Road around 3 this morning, and one man was taken into custody. He was apprehended on Village Drive, nearly two miles from the scene of the shooting.

It’s not known if it was a random shooting or if  ICE offices were targeted.