Prairieland ICE shooting case nears jury’s hands after prosecutors, defense rest
As he denied a defense motion for a directed verdict of not guilty in the Prairieland shooting trial, U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman on Tuesday mused on whether it had been essential for prosecutors to offer evidence on antifa, which the government describes as a militarist, anarchist enterprise.
Nine defendants are jointly on trial in U.S. District Court in Fort Worth in connection with the July 4 shooting of an Alvarado police lieutenant outside ICE’s Prairieland Detention Center, at which immigrants awaiting deportation are held.
Antifa is short for anti-fascist and often used as an umbrella description for left-leaning militant groups that take part in demonstrations. Prosecutors have called the North Texas case the first indictment against alleged members since President Donald Trump issued an executive order last year designating antifa as a domestic terrorist organization. Defense attorneys have said antifa is an ideology and not a formal organization to which the defendants belonged.
What element of what offense in the indictment is proved by arguing the possible membership of the defendants in antifa groups, the judge explored in a question, after the jury had left for the day, that he asked of the case’s lead prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Smith.
Whether it was antifa or the “Methodist Women’s Auxiliary of Weatherford,” what was the value of presenting to the jury evidence of group ties to the defendants, Pittman wondered.
Smith said the antifa-directed black clothing the defendants wore at Prairieland to provide anonymity is a central component of the charge of providing material support to terrorists on which some of the defendants were indicted. In the view of government prosecutors, the shooting and its connection to antifa are inextricable.
Earlier in the day, prosecutors showed the jury Signal app messages, including a message defendant Benjamin Song wrote before the shooting to defendant Zachary Evetts referring to a “confrontation” Song expected at Prairieland. Prosecutors also showed the jury a surveillance photo of Evetts at a Waxahachie bank ATM at which he withdrew $160 to purchase fireworks. Some of the defendants in the case ignited fireworks in the direction of the ICE detention center in the minutes before the shooting.
The jury will hear closing arguments on Wednesday afternoon after the government and defense rested and closed on Tuesday, the eleventh day of the trial The defense called no witnesses.
Before closing arguments, the judge and attorneys will finalize the wording of instructions for the jury to follow during its deliberation, including whether there will be a reference to antifa in the jury charge.
The defendants’ attorneys refer to their clients as noise demonstrators and argue that they wanted, in a protest, to bring hope to detained immigrants.
Song, a 32-year-old former Marine Corps reservist, shot Lt. Thomas Gross with a rifle, prosecutors allege. Gross was fired upon after he responded to a call of an attempted breach at the ICE detention center and drew and pointed his pistol when he saw a person dressed in black tactical gear running away and a detention security employee following, he testified.
Early in the trial, defense attorneys suggested in cross-examination of government witnesses that Song may have been justified by defense of a third party because he believed that he was defending the running person. Judge Pittman later granted the prosecution’s motion to block defense attorneys from making that argument..
Gross’ draw of his pistol was “extremely reasonable,” FBI Special Agent Clark Wiethorn, the case agent, has testified.
“I believe lieutenant Gross was absolutely ambushed,” Wiethorn testified on Tuesday.
Gross was shot in his upper shoulder, and the projectile took a path through tissue and muscle, but avoided vital organs, before it left the back of his neck, Gross testified.
Thirteen people wearing black clothes were at Prairieland at the time of the shooting late on July 4, 2025, Wiethorn testified.
Some ignited fireworks and others spoke from a bullhorn or spray-painted anti-ICE phrases on vehicles and an unoccupied guard booth.
Beyond Song and Evetts, the defendants are Meagan Morris, who is referred to as Bradford Morris in the indictment, Autumn Hill, who is referred to as Cameron Arnold in the indictment, Savanna Batten, Maricela Rueda, Elizabeth Soto, Ines Soto and Daniel Rolando Sanchez Estrada.
Song is charged with attempted murder and discharging a firearm during, in relation to and in furtherance of a crime of violence. Evetts, Hill, Morris and Rueda are charged with aiding and abetting.
Song, Batten, Evetts, Hill, Morris, Rueda, and Elizabeth and Ines Soto also were indicted on charges including rioting, providing material support to terrorists, and conspiracy to use and carry an explosive.
Rueda and Sanchez Estrada also are charged with conspiracy to conceal documents, and Sanchez Estrada is charged with corruptly concealing a document or record.
Five additional defendants pleaded guilty in November to the charge of providing material support to terrorists and testified at the trial.
This story was originally published March 11, 2026 at 11:35 AM.
