A tragic and violent incident at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Dallas has left a migrant dead and the city reeling.
The suspected shooter, Joshua Jahn, 29, later took his own life, and new details about his life and habits have emerged that paint a portrait of isolation and obsession.
A Life Largely Spent in Gaming
Investigators discovered that Jahn spent more than 17,000 hours playing video games leading up to the shooting, according to data analyzed by the Daily Mail.
Titles such as Rust, Team Fortress 2, Left 4 Dead 2, and ARK: Survival Evolved consumed the majority of his time.
Experts suggest that his extensive experience in first-person shooter games may have provided him with familiarity in handling firearms, though his friends insist it was primarily a hobby.
Planning and Preparation
Authorities say Jahn meticulously planned the attack.
FBI Director Kash Patel revealed that his home contained detailed documents on Homeland Security and ICE facilities.
A handwritten note at the scene hinted at his intentions, reading: “Hopefully this will give ICE agents real terror, to think, ‘is there a sniper with AP rounds on that roof?’” Additionally, he tracked ICE personnel using apps and searched for ballistics and shooting videos online.
No Clear Political Motive
Despite initial speculation by some politicians framing the attack as politically motivated, friends and family insist Jahn was not politically active.
Instead, they describe him as an “edgelord”—someone obsessed with provocative humor and shock value, frequently posting on forums like 4chan.
His brother, Noah, told NBC News that Joshua had no strong opinions on immigration or ICE and had not shown significant political interest.
A Troubled Social Life
Those close to Jahn describe a downward spiral that saw him increasingly alienated from friends.
After dropping out of college, he spent most of his time online, often making offensive jokes that drove others away.
Friends recalled incidents of inappropriate behavior online and said he was not violent or aggressive in personal interactions prior to the shooting.
Background and Personal Life
Jahn grew up in Allen, Texas, and participated in Boy Scouts with his brother.
He had previously worked as a coder and was planning to move in with his parents in Oklahoma.
Jahn had no significant criminal record, aside from a 2015 marijuana-related arrest that was later dropped.
He had voted in the Democratic primaries in 2020 but was a registered independent.
The Shooting and Its Aftermath
On Tuesday morning, Jahn opened fire from a roof overlooking the ICE facility, targeting migrants being transported in an unmarked van.
Investigators say he fired indiscriminately, striking the building and the vehicle multiple times.
The horrifying scene left the community shocked and sparked renewed discussions about safety at federal facilities.
A Disturbing Image of Isolation
Authorities also found disturbing personal items at Jahn’s residence, including a poster referencing nuclear fallout and past events.
Combined with his obsession with violent games and online forums, the image that emerges is of a deeply isolated young man whose fascination with chaos escalated into deadly action.