Two alleged Antifa members were indicted this week on terrorism-related charges in connection with a July 4 attack on an ICE facility in Texas. The case marks the first time the Department of Justice has brought Antifa-related terrorism charges against a defendant since President Trump classified the group as a terrorist organization weeks ago.
A federal grand jury indicted Cameron Arnold and Zachary Evetts on Wednesday. The pair are charged with providing material support for terrorism, attempting to murder federal officers and assisting officers, and discharging firearms during attempted murders, according to the indictment, which was unsealed Thursday.
“For the first time ever, the FBI has arrested anarchist violent extremists and charged these Antifa-aligned individuals with material support to terrorism,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement.
“This was a planned and coordinated terrorist attack on the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, where armed extremists tried to murder U.S. officers on July 4th,” he added.
Patel said the FBI has made over 20 arrests tied to the July 4 attack and “related Antifa networks.”
The indictment was first reported by Fox News.
Prosecutors allege Arnold and Evetts were involved in the ambush of federal agents at the ICE detention facility along with nine other accomplices. The alleged attackers used fireworks as a distraction while vandalizing vehicles outside the facility, authorities say. The defendants spray-painted “traitor” and “ice pig” on official vehicles, according to photos from a court complaint.
When police responded to the incident, Arnold allegedly yelled, “Get to the rifles!”
“Seconds later, coconspirator-1 [Arnold] opened fire on the officers, striking the Alvarado officer in the neck area as the unarmed correctional officers ducked and ran for cover. The wounded officer fell to the ground but was able to return a few shots. Coconspirator-1 continued to fire additional rounds until his rifle jammed. The attackers then left the scene,” the indictment reads.
The latest indictment comes months after Arnold, Evetts and eight others were first charged with attempted murder. Each suspect faces three counts of attempted murder and three counts of discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.
Prosecutors said one suspect discharged 20 to 30 rounds at two detention center workers, at which point a police officer for the town of Alvarado, who was responding to a 911 call from detention workers, was shot in the neck. The officer was flown to a hospital and released after receiving treatment.
When the attackers fled the scene, they left behind assault rifles and loaded magazines, according to a criminal complaint. When the assailants were detained by Johnson County sheriff’s deputies and other law enforcement, several were found to be armed and wearing tactical body armor.
Officers also found cans of spray paint and flyers that read, “FIGHT ICE TERROR WITH CLASS WAR!” and “FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS.” The suspects were also in possession of a flag that read, “RESIST FACISM – FIGHT OLIGARCHY.”
The other eight individuals charged in the attack are Savannah Batten, Nathan Baumann, Joy Gibson, Bradford Morris, Maricela Rueda, Seth Sikes, Elizabeth Soto and Ines Soto.
“Make no mistake, this was not a peaceful protest,” acting U.S. Attorney Nancy E. Larson said in July. “This increasing trend of violence against law enforcement will not be tolerated in the Northern District of Texas.”