FBI Arrests Benjamin Hanil Song Following Violent Attack on Prairieland Detention Center. In a significant law enforcement operation, Benjamin Hanil Song was apprehended by FBI agents in Dallas, Texas, concluding a weeklong manhunt following a violent attack ...
FBI Arrests Benjamin Hanil Song Following Violent Attack on Prairieland Detention Center
Date: July 16, 2025
Overview of the Incident
In a significant law enforcement operation, Benjamin Hanil Song was apprehended by FBI agents in Dallas, Texas, concluding a weeklong manhunt following a violent attack at the Prairieland Detention Center on July 4. Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Nancy E. Larson, announced Song's arrest, which marks the fourteenth individual taken into custody in connection with the incident.
Details of the Attack
According to court documents, the incident unfolded shortly after 10:30 p.m. on July 4, when Song, a former United States Marine Corps reservist, and ten other individuals initiated an organized assault against detention center officers. The group, clad in black military-style attire, began by launching fireworks at the facility and vandalizing vehicles and structures in the parking lot, aiming to lure correctional officers outside. This reckless behavior escalated quickly; when officers responded to reports of suspicious activity, they came under fire.
One officer was shot in the neck by an assailant positioned in nearby woods, while another attacker fired 20 to 30 rounds at unarmed correctional officers who had stepped outside the facility. Song has been charged with three counts of attempted murder of federal agents and three counts of discharging a firearm in relation to a violent crime.
Investigation and Capture
The violent ambush prompted immediate action from law enforcement. Within days, ten of Song's accomplices were arrested, but Song managed to evade capture on the night of the attack. Allegations indicate that he utilized four firearms linked to the ambush and communicated with co-conspirators via encrypted chat groups, sharing reconnaissance details about the detention center and the locations of nearby police departments.
Song's cellular data placed him in close proximity to the detention center during the night of the attack and into the following day. His eventual arrest was the result of relentless efforts by the FBI and other law enforcement agencies, as noted by Acting U.S. Attorney Larson, who expressed confidence that Song would not remain at large for long.
Response from Law Enforcement
“The FBI has worked tirelessly to arrest everyone associated with the shooting at the Prairieland Detention Center,” stated R. Joseph Rothrock, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Dallas Division. “This arrest underscores our commitment to protecting the community and our law enforcement partners from such coordinated attacks.”
Legal Proceedings
As the case unfolds, it is important to remember that a criminal complaint is merely an allegation of wrongdoing and does not constitute proof of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If convicted, most defendants are facing serious charges that could result in significant prison sentences, with a minimum of ten years and a maximum of life imprisonment for the most severe offenses.
Conclusion
The investigation, which was a collaborative effort involving the FBI, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Office (ICE ERO), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Alvarado Police Department, and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, continues as authorities work to ensure justice is served for this violent incident.
