Once again, the nation found itself in a grimly familiar situation: a shocking act of violence swiftly followed by an intense scramble for answers, with observers even dissecting messages found on bullets in a desperate bid to understand the perpetrator’s motives.
Echoing the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk just two weeks prior, a fatal shooting at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Dallas, which also left two detainees seriously injured, immediately ignited a flurry of contradictory information and strong opinions on Wednesday.
Federal officials reported that the assailant, later identified as Joshua Jahn, 29, opened fire from a nearby rooftop, shooting “indiscriminately” and striking multiple victims. Jahn subsequently died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
During a speech in North Carolina, Vice President JD Vance swiftly characterized the shooter as a “violent left-wing extremist.” He asserted that undisclosed information confirmed the individual was “politically motivated,” though he did not provide further details on the government’s evidence.
However, The Times’ independent investigations, based on interviews with authorities and other sources, have not corroborated Mr. Vance’s portrayal of the shooter or his stated motive. Despite an extensive online presence, Mr. Jahn’s public records show he voted in a Democratic primary in Texas in 2020 but otherwise displayed minimal interest in political matters.
The Dallas shooting also sparked a notable confrontation involving Vice President Vance and Jon Favreau, a leading progressive podcast host. Vance additionally implicated California Governor Gavin Newsom, accusing him of contributing to a hostile atmosphere through anti-ICE rhetoric. Meanwhile, former President Trump similarly laid blame for the violence at the feet of liberals.
This swift response to the shooting highlights a recurring pattern in the era of violent incidents: rapid judgments and impassioned outrage frequently precede a full understanding of the situation.
The digital spat between Mr. Vance and Mr. Favreau unfolded just hours after the Dallas attack. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had earlier declared that “our ICE law enforcement is facing unprecedented violence against them,” noting that the motive behind the shooting remained unconfirmed.
Mr. Vance subsequently shared Ms. Noem’s statement, adding his own commentary: “the obsessive attack on law enforcement, particularly ICE, must stop.”
This post quickly ignited the indignation of Jon Favreau, a former speechwriter for President Barack Obama and co-host of the acclaimed political podcast “Pod Save America.”
Favreau countered by asserting that “the vice president is not a reliable source of information,” pointing out Vance’s history of making “political takes” that were later disproven by law enforcement.
The assassination of Mr. Kirk previously saw similar speculation, with messages inscribed on bullets recovered from the scene leading to extensive theories and assumptions about the shooter’s motivations.
On Wednesday, Mr. Vance and his allies highlighted an image shared by F.B.I. Director Kash Patel, depicting rifle ammunition with a casing seemingly emblazoned with “ANTI-ICE” in blue. However, the true intent behind such messages on bullets, both in Mr. Kirk’s assassination and the recent Dallas tragedy, remains unconfirmed, and The Times has not independently verified any specific details regarding the Dallas ammunition.
This morning just before 7am local time, an individual fired multiple rounds at a Dallas, Texas ICE facility, killing one, wounding several others, before taking his own life. FBI, DHS, ATF are on the ground with Dallas PD and state authorities.
While the investigation is… pic.twitter.com/SMOyxiKLqA
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) September 24, 2025
This escalating feud between Favreau and the Vice President—a spat that saw Mr. Vance resort to profanity—was merely one skirmish in a broader, rapidly unfolding ideological battle between conservative and progressive factions.
By late Wednesday, former President Trump joined the fray, launching an attack on Democrats via Truth Social. He emphatically declared, “CALLING ON ALL DEMOCRATS TO STOP THIS RHETORIC AGAINST ICE AND AMERICA’S LAW ENFORCEMENT, RIGHT NOW!” and condemned what he called “the Left Wing Domestic Terrorism that is terrorizing our Country.”
Trump further asserted, “The continuing violence from Radical Left Terrorists, in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, must be stopped.”
Homeland Security Secretary Noem later issued a statement, urging the “far-left” to temper its language, warning that “Comparing ICE Day-in and day-out to the Nazi Gestapo, the Secret Police, and slave patrols has consequences.”
Vice President Vance amplified his criticism, publicly assailing Governor Newsom in his North Carolina speech. He accused the Democrat of demonizing ICE as “part of an authoritarian government” during a recent interview on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”
Vance forcefully declared, “If your political rhetoric encourages violence against our law enforcement, you can go straight to hell and you have no place in the political conversation of the United States of America.”
Newsom, also seen as a potential presidential contender for 2028, had previously stated in his Colbert interview that “the ICE issue is alarming beyond words,” raising concerns about federal agents’ tactics such as using masks and unmarked vehicles.
Newsom described these as “not just authoritarian tendencies, these are authoritarian actions by an authoritarian government,” stressing that “This can’t be normalized.”
Responding to Vance’s comments on Wednesday, Governor Newsom took to X, quipping: “No thanks, JD. I will not be going ‘straight to hell’ today.”
He added, “Though when I watch you speak I certainly feel like I’m already there.”