The FBI has arrested 32‑year‑old Benjamin Hanil Song, a former Marine Corps reservist from Dallas, ending an 11‑day manhunt following a coordinated attack on the Prairieland ICE detention center in Alvarado, Texas, on July 4.
Song now faces federal charges including three counts each of attempted murder of a federal officer and discharging a firearm during a violent crime.
In addition, federal authorities have arrested John Phillip Thomas and Lynette Read Sharp on charges of accessory after the fact, accusing them of aiding Song’s evasion - Thomas allegedly drove and hid him after the shooting, while Sharp provided logistical support and monitored encrypted chats after opting out of the ambush.
Prosecutors say both face substantial bond amounts and could face up to 15 years if convicted of aiding a terrorist suspect and obstructing justice.
What’s Next:
Song is the 14th person arrested in the plot, which federal prosecutors describe as a “planned ambush” that wounded an Alvarado police officer in the neck.
Authorities confiscated multiple firearms, tactical gear, and evidence of the attackers’ organized planning via encrypted Signal chats
As the investigation continues, federal agents are combing through digital footprints and communications to determine the full scope and hierarchy of the conspiracy.
Bottom Line: A massive law enforcement effort has rounded up alleged orchestrators of a violent anti-ICE attack, including those who helped Song escape in the aftermath. Federal prosecutors vow swift justice - and authorities continue searching for any additional suspects linked to this alarming plot.
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