Benjamin Hanil Song is accused of shooting an Alvarado police officer during an attack on the Prairieland Detention Center.
TEXAS, USA — Federal authorities are searching for a man accused of opening fire during a July 4 attack on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Texas, injuring a police officer.
The FBI identified the suspect as Benjamin Hanil Song. He is wanted in connection to the shooting at the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, a facility operated by ICE. The search prompted a BLUE Alert to be issued on Wednesday.
According to federal officials, during the attack an officer with the Alvarado Police Department was shot and wounded. Details about the officer’s condition have not been released.
A federal arrest warrant was issued for Song on July 9 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Fort Worth. He faces charges of attempted murder of a federal officer and discharging a firearm during, in relation to, and in furtherance of a crime of violence.
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to Song’s arrest and conviction. He should be considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information on Song’s whereabouts is urged to contact the FBI or local law enforcement.
Gov. Greg Abbott announced Thursday that the Office of the Governor’s Public Safety Office is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to Song’s arrest. The Texas Department of Public Safety has added him to their 10 Most Wanted Fugitive List as well.
“The targeted attacks against our federal law enforcement officers is a crime and must end,” Abbott said. “Criminals such as Benjamin Hanil Song will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I encourage Texans with information to call the Texas Crime Stoppers hotline or submit an anonymous tip online. Texas is and always will be a law-and-order state.”
Song, 32, is described as an Asian male, approximately 5 feet, 6 inches tall, and weighs 150 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair. He is considered armed and dangerous.
With the FBI’s award already in place, the total reward amount is up to $35,000.
For cash rewards, people must provide information using one of the following methods:
WHAT IS A BLUE ALERT?
Blue Alerts are issued to help catch people who are believed to have wounded or killed local, state, or federal law enforcement officers.
CRITERIA FOR BLUE ALERT
- A law enforcement officer must have been killed or seriously injured by an offender.
- The investigating law enforcement agency must determine that the offender poses a serious risk or threat to the public and other law enforcement personnel.
- A detailed description of the offender’s vehicle, vehicle tag, or partial tag must be available for broadcast to the public.
- The investigating law enforcement agency of jurisdiction must recommend the activation of the Blue Alert to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).