16 Antifa Members Charged in Texas ICE Riot

Nine members of an Antifa group were indicted Friday and seven more were charged in the attempted murder of a Texas police officer during a July attack on an immigration detention center, the Justice Department said.

Charged in the 12-count incident were suspected North Texas Antifa cell members Cameron Arnold, Zachary Evetts, Benjamin Song, Savanna Batten, Bradford Morris, Maricela Rueda, Elizabeth Soto, Ines Soto and Daniel Rolando Sanchez-Estrada. They were charged with multiple offenses for their alleged roles related to the July 4 attack at the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas.

In addition, Nathan Baumann, Joy Gibson, Susan Kent, Rebecca Morgan, Lynette Sharp and John Thomas are charged with one count of providing material support to terrorists.

The nine indicted members are charged with rioting with the intent to commit an act of violence; providing material support to terrorists; conspiracy to use and carry an explosive; using and carrying an explosive; attempted murder of officers; discharging a gun during and in relation to and in furtherance of a crime of violence; corruptly concealing a document or record; and conspiracy to conceal documents.

Federal prosecutors said 11 of the suspects rioted and attacked the detention center, which was being used to house illegal immigrants awaiting deportation.

They were dressed in "black bloc," dark clothing with head and face coverings that concealed their identities, authorities said. Once at the facility, they began allegedly shooting off and throwing fireworks at the building and vandalizing vehicles and a guard shack on the federal property.

An Alvarado police officer responded to the chaos after correctional officers called 911. When the officer issued commands to Baumann, Song allegedly yelled, "Get to the rifles," and opened fire on the officer, who was struck in the neck as the unarmed correctional officers ducked and ran for cover.