On Independence Day, 2025, a group of anti-ICE activists [music] were dropped off at the Prairieland ICE Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas. One protester, [music] later identified as 32-year-old former Marine Corps reservist Benjamin Song, acted as [music] one of two lookouts while the rest split into two groups. Most walked along the western side of the facility and shot fireworks while another individual split off and engaged [music] in apparent acts of vandalism, tagging buildings and ICE vehicles, kicking out taillights, and committing other minor acts of property damage. [music] Two unarmed facility employees approached the group while central control inside the detention [music] center dialed 911. >> I think they're doing fireworks. Oh, somebody's trying to get in. Can you hurry up and send somebody? >> Okay. All right, we got them in route, okay? Call us back if anything changes. >> As local responding officers arrive, all the demonstrators [music] begin fleeing the scene except for Benjamin Song, who's armed with a rifle and intends to use it. >> 4310, I'm on scene. Subject is cooperative. 10-1. 4338, I'm on >> Hey, STOP! HE'S RUNNING! GET ON THE GROUND! STOP! I'M HIT! 310, SHOTS FIRED. I'M HIT. I'M HIT! I'M HIT! WHERE'S he at? I don't know. They ran it off. He ran off towards Tanglewood in the back. >> Go. Go. Go. Go. >> ran off on black. He ran off on [music] Grogan. Yep. Where'd you get hit, brother? My back! I don't know if my back is on fire or not. >> Do I turn left here? >> It said Tanglewood. Last street. X Go down Yeah. >> I think this one that way we can >> Go down Grogan. >> Yeah. >> Oh shots fired. Go go go go. Say ran ran off towards Tanglewood so he went running down the street. >> Just don't want to miss him if he cut through. >> Wearing all black and he's got a rifle. >> He's hit. I'm getting him out of here. There's gunmen behind you. They went into the field. There's three guys with dark clothes. They went that way. >> He shot. I got to get him to hospital. >> Any unit out there can you advise me where 43 times going to be? >> WHERE IS THE PHONE GUYS? WHERE'S THE PHONE? >> NEAR Tanglewood >> in Sunflower Lane. >> Who shot? >> 1830 we have an officer that's been hit. >> We didn't see anything this way but he's got a gun. Can you say if it was a vehicle no kind of vehicle or anything? >> Just running on foot. >> Who's hit? >> I am. >> You good? >> No, I'm hit. In my back. >> In your back? Oh [ __ ] Hey. Yeah, I got I got him. Hey, you're good. You're good. You're good. Where they go? >> I don't know they ran off that way. >> Hey 4339 the other units let's let's >> We're setting up a perimeter. >> I'm upper right shoulder. Just above the knee. >> Hey Gross is hit. >> He's hit in the back. I I I got rounds down. I don't know if someone went down or not. >> Did it go through? >> Yeah, he's hit. Are you hit right here in the back of the neck? So, don't move or take him. Just breathe, okay? We're right here. Hey, stay with him, Justin. >> You want to start walking back toward that way since he ran that way? That way? >> Yeah. 1820 Unless you're out here, stay off the radio. Suspects ran west from our units into this field. Let me see your hands! Let me see your [ __ ] hands! Hey, I got to go. >> Get cover. >> 21 to 10. How many's with you? >> Don't know. >> At least how many's with you? >> Now answer. >> Sir. >> Don't know. >> Unknown how many's outstanding. Hey, who is that? >> Gross is leading people this way. >> Hey, go inside now. Do you have any weapons on you? >> I have a knife. >> Where? >> On my belt loop on the belt on the side. >> Hey, hey. Right here. >> I can't see you. >> Grab it. Hold this. Several, we're calling right now. >> Uh-huh. >> So, do anybody have nowhere to go right now? >> He's up there Tanglewood or and Sunflower. >> Okay. >> Hey, if he's going to hold with that back, I'm going to go back down a little bit. >> Okay. Did you make contact with Gross? >> I didn't. I just heard Bell say set up a perimeter and they all told me they ran down this way, so I shot down here. >> Who were those people right there? >> Grab it with me. >> I have no idea who those people are. I thought those were officers. >> No. >> are just a whole bunch of people walking in back. >> I thought you ushered them this way. >> 4332 4339 stop those people walking. >> Hey, come here. Come here. Have your gun out. >> Got it. >> Come here. Let me talk to you. >> They were all wearing black. >> So, what's going on? Where are y'all coming from? >> Any units responding, we need a block off the entry and exits to this area. >> Where are y'all coming from? You said just walking? From where? >> Units arriving, come down Burnett. We think we might have the subjects. >> Everybody have a seat on the ground right quick. And don't nobody reach for nothing right there. >> Hey, we have one in custody. Unknown how many outstanding. They're not being cooperative. >> We have two detained on Burnett. Looks like it's going to be Hispanic males wearing black. >> Two detained on Burnett. >> Actually, we have three detained. >> Sit down for me. >> Yes. >> Don't reach in your Hey, do not reach in your pockets. >> I'm putting my hands on the ground. >> Woah, woah, woah. >> You mind if we sit on the concrete? >> Yeah, just sit down. >> Can I sit on the concrete? >> Yeah, sit down. Yeah, don't reach for a damn thing. Hey! Hey! How many were there? >> Three. Three of them. >> Throw the thing. I will pop your ass today. Do not [ __ ] play with me. YOU UNDERSTAND ME? >> DO NOT MOVE. YOU WILL BE SHOT. >> I JUST ASKED HIM IF I COULD SIT ON THE CONCRETE. >> NOBODY ELSE MOVE, all right? >> Get these girls out of here. >> I just asked him if I could sit on the concrete. That's all I did. >> Sit down. >> He told me I could. >> We got all three suspects. We got mags? >> Go check the vehicle. >> Yeah. >> I forgot my radio. >> Sit down. >> 43-34, we have five detained. >> All the way. >> It's going to be three females, two males. We need another unit on the Burnett. >> Get it off. Don't you have to warrant on me? >> Shut up. Get it off. >> Do you have to have a warrant? >> Get it off. >> Hey! >> 41-50, I'm coming down. >> TAKE OFF THE GODDAMN BACKPACK. >> Coming down. >> He has a backpack, too. They all do. >> I do not consent to a search. I do not consent to a search. >> Hey, you guys >> I do not consent to a search. >> 18-20, we have rear fires. >> not consent to a search. >> If you move, YOU'LL BE SHOT. >> I do not consent to a search. >> You should better put >> I do not consent to a search. >> Do not consent to a search. >> 10-4, he's in a fire station. >> Shut up. >> I do not consent to a search. >> I don't care. >> Yeah, you got to consent to a goddamn thing today. >> Run and find out today. >> Oh, he's running in the back of the net. Like squatting in the [ __ ] net. That scares the [ __ ] out of me how she was just laying here. >> She has one on her side, too. The white female. >> Damn, I'm hungry as [ __ ] >> All right, we've got a gun in here. >> You got one? >> Yep. >> She has a bag, too. >> We got one with a with a gun. >> Take it. >> Everything is tenfold. Tenfold. >> Black guy right here. >> Thank you. I don't consent to your search. >> You're not consenting to a search? >> Hey. >> Come here. We're at right now over here at the entrance gate. >> You're not under arrest or being detained. >> off of the highway. And this whole neighborhood completely blocked off. >> Everyone, don't say anything. Don't talk. >> You got anything on you? Front pocket. >> No front pocket. Sorry. Front pouch. >> Right there. >> Yeah. >> You can pull that out and get rid of it. >> He has a gun on his waistband. >> Two magazines, a body armor. >> Play like that. >> Shell casing? >> Yeah, don't touch it. Yeah, don't touch it. >> Five. >> 724, anybody coming in and out of this neighborhood needs to be stopped. >> If they get pissed off, I'm leaving. >> I got one in the back of the car. >> Be advised, we have two that have weapons on them. >> There's a red van leaving our location from this side street. >> 7246, the Sunflower line is blocked off from 67. >> He has a full SWAT vest kit. >> Y'all are ready for war. >> Hey, Sam. You got some cuffs? We got to start cuffing everybody. >> Turn around. Put your hands behind your back. >> It doesn't matter which direction you go. >> You need more cuffs? >> Yeah, we'll cuff everybody. >> We need one for her. >> Here you go. >> Stop. >> Put your hands behind your back. >> I don't care. >> Hey, did you see something about a red van? >> Do you have anything on you? >> Yeah, there was a red van leaving from us over here. >> You said what? >> A fake. >> But I just want to make sure everybody is being detained before we start letting people leave the neighborhood. >> It's in my uh winter special pocket. >> Do you have anything on you? >> What is it? >> Hey, whatever unit is coming out 67 at Ball, that red van that headed westbound we stopped it. >> What's that? >> Holster. >> You got another gun? >> No, sir. It's the original holster of that gun. >> Where's y'all's car at? Where's y'all's car at? >> Go on the ground. >> Hm? What? >> Is there any other guns in the car? >> There's some in the backseat. >> In the backseat? Hey, you're detained. All right, you're detained. Hey, firearms and rifle. >> Put them on this right side over here. >> What the [ __ ] >> 34, we have a total of five missing officers right now. >> Watch the >> Given the actual circumstances, let's see if we can get some answers on how many more is outstanding. The subject we have over here on scene does not cooperate. >> Do you have a Marine Accord gun? >> We can't We just need a helicopter. We have an officer involved shooting. >> All right, put your hands up in the >> I'm trying to get more more information. >> Thank you. I'm going to read you your rights. You're being detained right now. >> Yes, sir. >> You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will will be used against you in a court of law. Do you have any weapons on >> I have a SIG P226. >> What What's the other firearms in the car? >> Uh my friend is asking me to watch them while they went to the store. >> I did see everything on the passenger's body armor in the back. We seen start taking pictures. >> Who are those friends? >> I don't remember their names. >> You don't Where did you find them? >> Working for the guy out there. >> Online? Online? >> Oh, yeah. >> Was it a >> shot? >> Hm? >> Who was shot or was it just shots fired? >> I think it was just shots fired. >> Nobody >> shot. >> Not that I know of. >> Have you heard from Grove? >> I've not heard from Grove. >> So, what was the plan tonight? Why Why is there an officer shot? >> I have no idea. >> Okay. >> The plan was to make some noise. >> Okay, and whose guns are that? Whose guns are in your car? Were you supplying these firearms right now? >> No, I brought my personal one. >> Okay. Okay. >> What's going on, bro? This is like a targeted hit on Ferry Lane. >> All right, at this moment, I'm not charging you with anything at this time, but what going to have a talk, okay? >> Copy that. Serial number on the AR. >> Did anybody get shot? We also got a >> on location. >> Yeah, what the [ __ ] just happened? >> Hold on, hold on. That one's empty. That's that case for the other one. >> Hey, we're doing a PC search on this car for any guns, ammo, anything like that. Hey, hey, hey. >> Just be careful for explosives or anything, bro. Just keep your eyes out. >> Come back. >> The AR field. >> Dude, look at this. What the >> Hey, hey, just be careful, bro. >> Jackson, come here. >> Just be careful. >> Dude. >> Bro. >> This is like a straight coordinated terror attack on this freeway. >> I know. >> Five mags. >> Four mags here. >> If we see a phone, take it out. >> Okay. >> I'm trying to be very careful with this backpack, so. >> Yeah, be real careful, bro. >> Hey, make sure we go through everything for ammo, guns. >> Look at this, they even have a med a trauma kit. Take a picture of that. >> Hey, just hang out right here. Um, this is just like a straight coordinated terror attack on the ICE detention facility. >> Dude, they were planning on hunkering down. >> We got like six people, trauma kits, plates, ARs, all sorts of stuff. >> Holy [ __ ] What the man? >> Dude. >> This is [ __ ] crazy. >> How many people >> did he have in his car? >> I have one. I have drivers >> He's the driver. >> I don't know. That's what Hey Riley. >> Riley, how many people did he have in his car? You want to tell me that this guy just met people online and then drove him and didn't notice that they put a bunch of [ __ ] in his car? >> With seven people in custody and the shooter still at large, officers [music] discovered an eighth involved person in the neighborhood adjacent to the ice facility. >> What are you doing out here? >> I was peacefully protesting officer and then I saw y'all. I got scared. I ran away. I'm I'm so sorry. Um I saw uh um >> Were you with the other ones? >> Uh what other ones, officer? >> The other There's six other people. >> Uh which six other people? I mean you had a guy that went by Wise. I saw a couple other people. I let off some Roman Roman candles and stuff like that. I just got I'm so sorry. I got PTSD. >> All right. >> You're not going to find any weapons in this bag? >> Uh no, sir. Maybe a pocket knife, but I don't use that as a a weapon. Maybe >> Do you have anything on you? >> Uh no, officer. I don't. >> Is that a legal firearm, ma'am? >> Detain or is he free to leave? >> I want to detain him while we crossfire. >> He's part of the group. >> Yeah. >> I was I thought it was a peaceful protest. Joined the group. Thought that it would be tame and then it just went to [ __ ] People started smashing, spray painting. >> All right. >> No, I got a can of spray paint thinking, oh, you know, I'm going to use it to make a sign and stuff like that. That's just my protest bag. So, you know, I got everything to make signs and stuff like that. >> He's detained on 25 L. >> Uh that's another guy. His name is Wise. Uh spray painting the cars and stuff like that. >> Yeah, we're going to keep this individual detained and we're just going to >> So, my Yeah, that's I I didn't think they were crazy like that. >> Right now, I'm just trying to find out how many people we have that are involved. >> Yes, sir. I'm so sorry. Am I going down to the uh station tonight, officer? >> I have no idea. Just give me a second, okay? >> Yes, sir. I I don't have a mask or I can't anything. I I don't have a mask or anything. I'm I'm just a peaceful protester. >> I understand. >> I just don't support the administration. I saw y'all. I I I freaked the [ __ ] out. I I ran. >> Is that Autumn Hill? >> Autumn Hill, that's her. >> Yeah. >> Parsons, 100% sure it's Autumn. >> It looks like her. >> What's your name? >> Megan. >> What's your real name? >> Megan Morris. >> Megan Morris? Okay. Hey, that's Megan Morris. >> Huh? >> She's claiming to be Megan Morris. >> Megan Morris, is that the same ID we have? >> There's an ID for a Megan Morris in here. >> Officers continued patrolling the area, and 3 hours later, spotted a man in all black walking along Highway 67, [music] 3 miles east of the facility. >> Come here. Let me see your hands. Come here. Come here. Come here. Get down on your knees. Turn around. Turn around. >> 7301. All right. There was a white man. He was wearing all black and tactical pants covered in mud uh 67 and 27 driving. W. >> Lay down on your face right now. >> On me. >> Ready? >> You got hands out, cover. >> Okay. >> Don't [ __ ] move, you understand? >> Put your other hand. Put your other hand. >> Where are you coming from? >> Uh not exactly sure. >> Well, well, on this side. >> Okay, I'm going to lift you up. You're going to sit on your butt. You understand? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Is there anybody else out here with you? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Is that a yes or no? >> Sir. Not that I know of. >> We're going to stand you up. One, two, three. Quick feet. What is it? >> What's your first name, partner? >> My name is in my back right pocket. >> Any medical conditions or anything like that? >> Allergies. >> Uh right now you're in custody for uh attempted capital murder, okay? >> In all, nine people were arrested immediately following the shooting. Joy Gibson, Elizabeth and Inez Soto, Seth Skyes, Maricela Rueda, Savannah Batton, Megan Morris, Nathan Bowman, and Zachary Evitts. All were federally charged with providing material support to terrorists, while some received additional charges. Riot with intent to commit an act of violence, conspiracy to use and carry explosives, and conspiracy [music] to conceal implicating documents. 11 firearms were recovered, and according to firearms transaction records, all [music] were purchased legally. Four firearms belonged to Song, and one was found at the scene of the shooting, jammed and legally modified with a binary trigger, effectively doubling the rate of fire. 11 spent 5.56 shell casings were found near his firearm. Authorities began a massive manhunt for the shooter, Benjamin Song, leading officers to serve a no-knock warrant at Megan Morris's home. An additional demonstrator, Autumn Hill, [music] who was present at the demonstration but left the area prior to the shooting, was taken into custody and charged with most of the same charges as the other nine. On July 6th, Maricela Rueda's husband, Daniel Sanchez Estrada, was surveilled and subsequently arrested following a jail call [music] between the two. >> Daniel, right? >> Yeah. >> Anybody in the car? >> No, not at all. >> Anything that's going to hurt us? >> No, not at all, sir. >> They asked if you were involved and I was just like, "God, no, like he No, he doesn't know anything. He was not involved and he doesn't know anything about anything. Like >> Yeah. >> Um [laughter] if this is speaking >> Which is the truth, obviously. Yeah. >> If this is too dangerous for you, I understand, but like just take care of my baby. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> My car is parked on the 2400 blocks of 56 Street. >> Yeah, so the person I'm in contact with the person already, but we don't have a key. >> I know. Tow it. >> Yeah, that's what we're we figured out today, so Um >> Tow it. My phone is in the back. If you can either get somebody to you know, get in there however they can or get a locksmith to get all my stuff out. Um >> I already went to your house, what do you mean? >> I don't know exactly like the charges, but she called me this morning from where? Uh Johnson County. Yeah. >> You know she didn't tell you anything? >> Uh >> That's your spouse, right? >> Yeah, that is my wife. >> Yeah, I don't know anything about this. I'm >> just playing catch up, but you know, I mean you don't have to tell me what you talked about, but did she tell you what happened? >> Uh no. >> No. What do you think happened? So What are the charges? >> The charges are um I mean that she's got some severe charges, man. >> Like what? >> It's a aggravated assault and then terrorism. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Okay. You don't know anything about it? >> No. No, no, like at >> Okay. >> I was shocked when she was arrested like >> Were you? >> Yeah, but I didn't know I was yeah. >> For towing Marcella's vehicle, which contained medical supplies, water, and a box of zines from a wide range of social causes, Daniel was charged with corruptly concealing documents and conspiracy to conceal documents. Around the same time, Benjamin Song, still hiding in a field near the detention facility, contacted a friend to help him escape. Cell phone data obtained by a federal search warrant show that Song's phone continued checking in with cell towers near the facility before suddenly checking into a cell tower in Dallas and going dark after July 7th. For over a week, Song was [music] moved to various locations while his friends who helped along the way were being arrested and interrogated, eventually ending with the FBI arresting him at a Dallas apartment. Benjamin Song was charged with riot, providing material support to terrorists, conspiracy to use and carry an explosive, use and carry an explosive, three counts of attempted murder of officers and employees of the United States, and three counts of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Though the federal government maintains in its court filings that the demonstration was a coordinated terror attack, Autumn Hill, in an interview with Uncloseted Media, maintains that her role, along with many of her co-defendants, [music] was not rooted in terror. >> We did what's called a noise demonstration, which is a pretty typical form of protest. You know, you show up outside of a building where something is going on that you and your friends might disagree with, and you make a lot of noise to signal your your presence and dissent. But my goal was to [music] let the people inside, the detainees, know, "Hey, uh we're here. We know that you were there. You haven't been forgotten." >> Bail was set at $5 million per charge. Many defendants, including those who aided Benjamin after the shooting, pled guilty to their charges and received lighter sentences for their cooperation with authorities. While most of those who took part in the demonstration went to trial, each of the defendants who went to trial were found guilty and given decades-long sentences and are currently facing additional state charges. Additionally, Daniel Sanchez, who never attended the demonstration, and Autumn Hill, who left before shots were fired, were found guilty on all counts and received 30 years and 50 years in federal prison. Signal messages stored in the notification cache recovered from Evett's home reveal that Ruweda and Song discussed bringing rifles hours before the noise demonstration took place, with Song believing that bringing more than one rifle would possibly make officers back off. For his role, Benjamin was found guilty on [music] all counts and sentenced to 100 years in prison. In total, 22 people were arrested for their role in the demonstration, shooting, or for aiding Song's escape from authorities. [music] Officer Gross was airlifted the night he was shot, was discharged hours later, and acted as a primary witness in the federal case against the Prairie Land demonstrators.