Federal investigators revealed Thursday that the alleged sniper who opened fire on a Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility used a vintage bolt-action rifle legally obtained just weeks earlier.
At a press conference, FBI Special Agent in Charge Joseph Rothrock stated the attacker acquired the firearm in August. “The sniper legally obtained an 8mm bolt action rifle … used in the shooting,” Rothrock confirmed. He added that the weapon was of World War II design, the same class of firearm used in many mid-20th-century conflicts.
Unlike modern semi-automatic rifles, bolt-action weapons require the shooter to manually operate the bolt to eject a spent casing and chamber a new round after each shot. While rudimentary compared to modern firearms, bolt-action rifles are still capable of deadly precision in the hands of a trained marksman.
The weapon’s vintage design echoed another recent attack: the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, where a similarly basic firearm was used. Both incidents highlight a troubling trend of attackers seeking out unconventional or outdated firearms that are less likely to draw scrutiny but remain lethal.
Further details from the investigation indicate premeditation. Former federal prosecutor Kash Patel disclosed that the sniper had conducted “multiple searches of ballistics and the ‘Charlie Kirk Shot Video’” online in the weeks before the Dallas attack. Investigators also discovered the suspect had used apps that tracked ICE agents’ movements, suggesting targeted intent against federal officers.
The FBI has not yet released the suspect’s name or specific motive, though officials confirmed the investigation is ongoing and that terrorism-related charges have not been ruled out.
The attack comes amid rising hostility toward immigration enforcement officers, with ICE and Border Patrol increasingly demonized by activist groups and political leaders. Federal officials say these inflammatory narratives contribute to a dangerous climate where violent actors feel emboldened to target agents carrying out lawful duties.
