‘Get to the rifles,’ Prairieland ICE shooter commanded in body-worn camera audio

The black clothing worn by 11 people made it difficult for law enforcement to determine the precise acts of each person late on July 4, when one of them is accused of shooting a local police lieutenant outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Johnson County.

Although much of the activity was recorded on video, the defendants’ use of monikers in encrypted written messages in advance of the shooting, avoidance of cellphones that would indicate their location and employment of other methods to maintain “op-sec,” has stymied the connection of behavior to defendant.

In a case in which the criminal complaint’s top count is attempted murder but in which the relative culpability of each defendant is in question by their defense attorneys, their individual roles were a focus of a joint probable cause hearing on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Fort Worth.

The Prairieland Detention Facility defendants’ attorneys refer to their clients as protesters. The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office describe them as attackers.

Some ignited fireworks, others spoke from a bullhorn, still others spray-painted anti-ICE slogans on vehicles and an unoccupied guard booth.

One of the defendants, Benjamin Song — a 32-year-old former Marine Corps reservist who associates described to authorities as a cult-like ringleader who opposes the government on immigration enforcement and on other matters — shot Alvarado Police Department Lt. Thomas Gross, authorities allege.

The lieutenant suffered one gunshot wound that entered near his shoulder and exited his back.

The evidence that Song was the shooter comes from a green mask the assailant wore from which samples that tested positive for Song’s DNA were taken and from interviews with cooperating sources, FBI Special Agent Clark Wiethorn testified at the hearing.

“Get to the rifles,” Song commanded before he fired upon Gross, the agent testified. A recording of the statement from Gross’ body-worn camera was played at the hearing.

Ejected cartridge casings that law enforcement collected from the scene were fired from one rifle also found there, but Special Agent Wiethorn could not answer a question on cross-examination on the results of a possible comparison examination between the projectile that left Lt. Gross’ body and was found in his clothing or uniform and that rifle.

Song was the only non-law enforcement shooter, the government alleges. He is accused of firing 11 rounds from a rifle. Gross returned fire with three rounds.

Song and the other defendants were motivated by the position that the migrants who are detained at the ICE facility are political prisoners, Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Smith asserted at the hearing.

A total of 17 people are charged in the case. Beyond Song, the defendants whose probable cause hearing was held on Tuesday were Autumn Hill (referred to in court documents as Cameron Arnold), Nathan Baumann, Zachary Evetts, Joy Gibson, Meagan Morris (referred to as Bradford Morris in court documents), Maricela Rueda, Seth Sikes, Elizabeth Soto and Ines Soto.

Whether residue swabs from the hands of the defendants who were arrested near the detention facility revealed firearm primer or suggested fireworks use, indicating, perhaps, their proximity to Song, were among the elements of physical evidence that the defense attorneys probed on Tuesday.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cureton found there was probable cause that the defendants had committed the offenses with which they are charged.

If convicted, the defendants face from 10 years to life in prison.

The suspects used the fireworks to lure ICE personnel from the facility, the U.S. Attorney’s Office argues.

The July 4 conflict began at 10:37 p.m. when people in the group started shooting fireworks at the detention facility, authorities have alleged.

About 10 minutes later, one or two members of the group broke off to spray-paint vehicles and the guard booth.

Two corrections officers emerged from inside the facility about 10:58 p.m. shortly after calling 911.

Gross was shot about a minute later.

This story was originally published October 2, 2025 at 7:41 PM.