10 Suspects Arrested after Attempting to Ambush and Kill Officers in Alvarado, Texas.

Alvarado, TX — Ten individuals have been federally charged following a violent and coordinated attack on the Prairieland Detention Center that left an Alvarado police officer seriously wounded, according to the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and multiple federal agencies.

The announcement was made jointly by Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson, FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock, and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Acting Field Office Director Joshua Johnson.

The group, described in a newly unsealed criminal complaint, arrived at the facility wearing black military-style clothing and launched fireworks at the detention center in what officials are calling an organized assault. After roughly ten minutes, several individuals began defacing property with spray paint. Graffiti was found on vehicles and a guard structure in the parking lot.

As correctional officers called 911, an Alvarado police officer responded to the scene. Upon arrival, the officer was shot in the neck by an alleged attacker positioned in nearby woods. At the same time, another suspect fired 20 to 30 rounds at unarmed correctional officers outside the building.

Law enforcement later recovered AR-style rifles at the scene. The attackers attempted to flee but were intercepted by Johnson County deputies. Authorities discovered multiple firearms, two-way radios, and twelve sets of body armor either on the suspects or in vehicles linked to them.

Searches also turned up spray paint, political flyers with slogans such as “FIGHT ICE TERROR WITH CLASS WAR!” and “FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS,” and a flag reading, “RESIST FASCISM – FIGHT OLIGARCHY.” One suspect was carrying multiple cell phones inside a Faraday bag, a signal-blocking pouch commonly used to evade digital tracking.

All ten individuals now face federal charges including three counts of attempted murder of federal agents and three counts of discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. The defendants are:

• Cameron Arnold

• Savannah Batten

• Nathan Baumann

• Zachary Evetts

• Joy Gibson

• Bradford Morris

• Maricela Rueda

• Seth Sikes

• Elizabeth Soto

• Ines Soto

“This was not a peaceful protest,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy E. Larson. “This was an ambush on federal and local law enforcement officers. Those who use violence against law enforcement officers will be found and prosecuted using the toughest criminal statutes and penalties available.”

FBI Special Agent Rothrock added, “The FBI stands with our partners and pledges that violence against law enforcement will not be tolerated. We are committed to thoroughly investigating this weekend’s incident and will hold those responsible accountable.”

Josh Johnson, Acting Director of ICE ERO Dallas, condemned the violence: “This type of vigilante lawlessness is emblematic of the dangers federal, state, and local law enforcement officials face every day.”

If convicted, each defendant faces a minimum of 10 years in federal prison and up to life behind bars. The investigation is being led by the FBI Dallas Field Office in coordination with ICE ERO, Homeland Security Investigations, the ATF, the Texas Department of Public Safety, Alvarado Police Department, and Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.