FORT WORTH, TX – Six women faced a federal judge today, charged in connection with the shooting of an Alvarado police officer during what prosecutors describe as an ambush at an ICE detention center. Supporters of the defendants claim the women were attending what they believed to be a peaceful protest.
Court-appointed attorneys and the defendants’ supporters declined to comment following the arraignment. The charges stem from an incident on July 4, when a protest outside the Prairieland Detention Center turned violent. Prosecutors allege the protest was a premeditated attack on law enforcement.
According to a federal complaint, at least 16 individuals have been charged. Some of the accused were reportedly dressed in military-style clothing. The protest initially involved shooting fireworks at the detention center, with two individuals vandalizing vehicles and a guard structure.
Officials suspect the vandalism was a tactic to lure ICE officers outside. When an Alvarado police officer responded to the 911 call, he was shot in the neck by an assailant hidden in the woods. Another shooter across the street reportedly fired multiple rounds at unarmed correctional officers.
Investigators discovered AR-style rifles, two-way radios, and body armor at the scene. The complaint states that the shooters fled but were apprehended by law enforcement. One attacker was found with cell phones in a signal-blocking bag.
The prosecution describes the incident as a conspiracy, a claim that the defendants’ supporters vehemently deny. Questions were raised over the timing of the hearings, which occurred 11 weeks post-arrest. An attorney noted that delays are not uncommon when both federal and state agencies are involved.
As the case unfolds, the community remains divided over the true nature of the events that night. The legal proceedings continue to garner attention, reflecting broader tensions surrounding immigration enforcement and protest activities.