Protesters Get 568 Years in Federal Prison

On Independence Day, 2025, a group of anti-ice activists were dropped off at the Prairie Land Ice Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas. One protester, later identified as 32-year-old former Marine Corps-reserviced Benjamin Song, acted as one of two lookouts while the rest split into two groups, most walked along the western side of the facility and shot fireworks while another individual split off and engaged in apparent acts of vandalism, tagging buildings and ice vehicles, kicking out taillights and committing other minor acts of property damage. Two unarmed facility employees approached the group while central control inside the detention center dialed 911. As local responding officers arrive, all the demonstrators begin fleeing the scene except for Benjamin Song, who's armed with a rifle and intends to use it. 43-10, I'm on site, come to the look out. Hey, stop! He's running! Get on the ground! Get on the ground! Come in! We've had just one! Good, we've had! Right to the head. I don't know, they ran off. They ran off towards Englewood in the back. Go, go, go, go! Do I turn left here? I said Tanglewood, last three. Next, go down. Yeah. I think this one, that way we can. Yeah. Oh, shot, it's fired. Go, go, go, go! It's a right around off course Tanglewood, so he went running down the street. I just don't want to miss him, he'd be cut through. We're all black and he's got a rifle. He's here, don't get him out of here. There's gunmen behind you, they went into the field. There's three guys, dark blood clothes, they went that way. He's shot, I gotta get him to hospital. That's what any unit out there can use, I think we have 43-10, can we? Where's the phone, gross, where's the phone? Tanglewood and sunflower lane. Who shot? He got an officer here. 1820, we have an officer that's been hit. We didn't see anything this way, but he's got a gun. I can't see if there's a vehicle, no kind of vehicle, anything? Who's hit? I am. You good? No, I'm fucking hit. My back. You're in the back? Oh, shit. Yeah, I got him, I got him. Hey, you're good, you're good, you're good. Where they go? They ran off that way. Hey, 43-30-9, another unit, let's cross that number forever. That gross is hit. He's hit that way. Did it go through? Yeah, he's hit. Have you hit right here in the back of an extra, not to move? I'll take him. It's free, okay? Hey, stay with him, does. I got him. You want to start walking back toward that way since Bill went that way? Yes. 1820, unless you're out here, stay off the radio. Suspects land west. From our units, into this building. Let me see your hands. Let me see your fucking hands. Hey, I got going. 21 to 10. Somebody's with you. No, no. At least, how many's with you? I don't know. No, answers. No, no. Do you want us to get a helicopter? To the board, I'm going to help you. I'm not going to get a helicopter. Several. We'll contact details there. Unknown, how many's outstanding? Several. Hey, who was that? Gross is leading people this way. Hey, go inside now. Give me weapons on you. I have a knife. Where? And I've got a move on the side. Hey, hey, right here. I can't see you. Grab all this. I know there's a lot going on. Are you having a shot of the right there one? Is that what we're calling or no? No, it's fine. So, do anybody have no weapons? He's up there in some tangled woods. Or in sunflower. No, okay. Hey, if he's got a hole at that back, I'm going to go back down a little bit. Okay. Do you make contact with Gross? I didn't. I just heard bells say set up a perimeter and they all told me they ran down this way. So, I shot down here. Who are those people right there? Grab it with me. I have no idea who those people are. I thought those are officers. No. Those are just a whole bunch of people walking around. I don't want to tell you where I'm going to be. I thought you ushered them this way. 4-3-3-2-4-3-3-9. Stop those people walking. Hey, come here, come here. Never gun out. Come here, let me talk to you. They were all wearing black. So, what's going on? Where are y'all coming from? In a unit responding, we need to block off the entry and exits to this area. You said it does walk in? From where? Units arriving, come down, Burnett. We think we might have the subjects. Everybody have a seat on the ground right quick. And don't nobody reach for nothing right there. We have two detained on Burnett. Looks like it's going to be Hispanic males wearing black. Two detained on Burnett. Hey, we have three detained. Sit down for me. Don't reach it. Hey, do not reach it. You'll park it. You mind if we sit on the concrete? Yeah, just sit down. Just sit on the concrete. Yeah, sit down. Don't reach for a damn thing. Hey, how many were there? Throw it at the ten. I will pop your ass today. Do not play with me. You understand me? You do not move. You will be shot. I just asked you if I could solve that. I just asked you if I could sit on the concrete. Sit down. You told me I could. We got a group of men. We got men. We'll touch each other. Yeah, I'll put up a radio. Sit down. 40 to 34. We have five detained. It's going to be three females, two males. We need another unit on a burnette. Don't you have to have a warrant? Do you have to have a warrant? I have a warrant. I got the damn bad man. Coming Sam. You have the bad man too. They all do. Do you understand me? I do not consent to a search. 18.20, I have real fire. Do you move? He's running back in the net like squaring the f***ing net, that scares the f***ing hell, she was just laying here. Sit up. She has one on her side too, the white female. Yeah, we're catching a six to seven here, behind the back. All right, we've got to go in here. Yep. She has a bag, too. We've got one with a, uh, what a good, thank you. Everything's time for. Thank you. I don't think it's up to you, sir. [Applause] We're at right now, we're here at the entrance gate. You are not under right here and I'm parked off from the highway. And this whole neighborhood is completely blocked off. Everyone don't say anything, don't cough. You got anything going on? Front pocket, not front pocket, sorry. Front pouch. Right there? Yeah. He has a gun, his waistband. That's right, we'll connect these to party room. Play like this. Xiao Tianxin, get out of the car. Get out of the car. Yeah, uh, uh, I'll go get a bag. Okay, three. Yeah, one, two, three, four, five. Okay, we're going to go on. I saw the key for where I burned that thing. We got a lock on the other side. Say, boy, anybody coming here, have a neighborhood needs to be stopped. So you're just gonna shoot it up. You get packets in there, man. I got one in the back room. I'm just gonna walk over here and I'll turn it. Yeah. Bit of ice, we have two to half weapons on them. There's a red van leaving our location from this side street. 75-06, the sunflower light is blocked off from 67. He has a full stop of a kit. Hey, Sam. You got some, uh, a cost. We got a spark cuff in there, buddy. Turn around. Put your hands behind your back. Doesn't matter what you put sent you. Yeah, we'll cut there, buddy. Here you go. Stop. I don't care. Frank, do you take another red thing? Do you have anything on you? Yeah, there was a red van leaving from us over here. He said what? Okay. But I just want to make sure that he's been detained before we start letting people use their hood. It's in my, uh, one-fifth of plastic. You have anything on you? Did you got that on? What is it? Whatever you need is coming out 67. It's not balls. That red man that said it was. Now we stop it. What did they turn around? Bit of ice, we got a ski mask. Got one more on them. What's that? You got another guy? I don't know sir. It's the original hole through that gun. Where's your car at? Where's your car at? Going on the ground. Is there any other guns in the car? There's something in the backseat. In the backseat? Hey, detain. Oh, they're out detain. Yeah. Don't you have no five yet? I'm going to eat. You have to hang away. I'm firebox. Yeah. Hey, fire arms and rifle. Put them on this right side. Got it. 34, we have a total of five. Given the action circumstances, let's see if we can get some answers on how many more is outstanding. Except that we have over here on scenes. It's not proper. You got a Miranda card on? We have a little computer. We have an officer around here. We're going to try a little more information. Thank you for knowing where we're going. I believe you're right. You're reading the dinner right now. Yes sir. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say came. We'll be using it against the court of law. We'll be seeing P226. What's up with all our arms over? My friends asked me to watch them. I do sleep, everything works out. There's body armor in the back. Will you see and start taking pictures? Who are those friends? I don't remember their names. Where did you find them? They're going to put them on fire. Oh yeah. Come on. Who was shot? Who was shot? I think it was your shot's fire. Yeah, nobody shot me. Or not. But I know, if you're angry, I'm not angry. So what was the plan tonight? Why is there an officer shot? I have no idea. We're good. The plan is to make some noise. It could get you. Okay. And who's guns are there? Who's guns are there? Are you supplying these fire arms? No, I brought my pistol. Okay. It keeps one of you there. Okay. This is just like a target and hit on it very little. It's just like a target and hit on it very little. Okay. There's a moment. I'm not targeting anything at this time. But we're going to have a talk, okay? Copy that. Sure. I'm around. Anybody get shot? I don't think I got shot. Yeah, I got shot. Okay. That one's empty. That's the case for the other one. Okay. We're doing a PC search on this car for any guns, ammo, anything like that. Hey, hey, hey. Just be careful for explosive or anything. Just keep your eyes out. Come back to our home. Dude, look at this. What the. Hey, I'm just be careful, bro. Jackson, come here. Just be careful. Dude. This is like a straight coordinated terror attack on this. Very late. I know. Five mags. Four mags here. If we see a phone, take it out. Okay. I'm trying to be very careful with this backpack set. Yeah, be real careful, bro. Okay, make sure we go through. Everything for ammo, guns. Look at this. They even have a metatroma kit. Take a picture of that. I just hang out right here. This is just like a straight coordinated terror attack on the ice detention facility. Dude, they were playing our hunkering down. We got like six people. Trauma kids, planes, ARs, all sorts of stuff. Holy s**t. What the f**k, man? What the f**k? This is f**king crazy. How many people. Is he having this car? I have one. No, he's the driver. I don't know. That's what. Hey, Riley. How many people did he have in this car? You ain't even tell me that this guy just met people online and s**t and drove him and didn't notice that they put a bunch of s**t in this car? With seven people in custody and the shooter still at large, officers discovered an eighth involved person in the neighborhood adjacent to the ice facility. What are you doing out here? I was peacefully protesting officer and then I saw y'all. I got scared. I ran away. I'm so sorry. I saw. Were you with the other ones? What other ones officer? The other. There's six other people. Which six other people? I knew a guy. He got one five wives. I saw a couple of other people. I let up some of them. Roman candles and stuff like that. I just got. I'm so sorry I got PTSD. Am I gonna find any weapons in this bag? No sir. Maybe a pocket knife, but I don't use that as a weapon. No, officer. I don't know. Is that a way to fly around? Man. He's angry. He's still with. I wanted to take a lot of luck with Crossbar. I. He's far with the group. I was. I thought it was a peaceful protest going to group. I thought that it would be tame and then it just went to. People started smashing the spray paint. I got a chance to spray paint. I think I know. I'm gonna use a. Make a sign and stuff like that. That's just my protest bag. So I got everything to make signs and stuff like that. The gun? The gun? The gun? The gun? The gun? The gun? The gun? The gun? His name is Wise. I didn't think they were crazy. Right now, I'm just trying to find out how many people we have that are involved. I'm so sorry. Can I go into the station tonight, Officer? I have no idea. Just give me a second. Okay? Yes, sir. I cannot. I understand. I understand. I'm just a peaceful protestor. I understand. No, I just don't support the administration. I sell y'all. I freaked out. I ran. Is that Autumn Hill? Autumn Hill, that's her. Yeah. Carson, 100% sure it's Autumn. It looks like her. What's your name? What's your real name? Megan. Megan Morris. Megan Morris? Okay. Hey, that's Megan Morris. She's claiming to be Megan Morris. Megan Morris? Is that their idea? There's an idea for Megan Morris in here. Officers continued patrolling the area, and three hours later spotted a man in all black walking along highway 67, three miles east of the facility. Come here. Come here. Come here. Get down to your knees, turn around, turn around, 73, I want to know what the white male wearing all black and tactical pants covered in mud, 67 and 27, 38, cover it. Get down to your face right now. Is there anybody else out here with you? Was that a yes or no? No, not that I know of. What's the first thing partner? What's in there? Uh, right now you're on custody for a tactical counter, okay? In all, nine people were arrested immediately following the shooting. Joy Gibson, Elizabeth and Ena Soto, Seth Sykes, Maricella Rueda, Savannah Baton, Megan Morris, Nathan Bauman, and Zachary Evans. All were federally charged with providing material support to terrorists while some received additional charges. Riot with intent to commit an act of violence, conspiracy to use and carry explosives, and conspiracy to conceal implicating documents. Eleven firearms were recovered and according to firearms transaction records all were purchased legally. Four firearms belonged to Song, and one was found at the scene of the shooting, jammed and legally modified with a binary trigger effectively doubling the rate of fire. Eleven spent five, five, six shell casings were found near his firearm. Authorities began a massive manhunt for the shooter, Benjamin Song, leading officers to serve a no-knock warrant at Megan Morris's home. An additional demonstrator, Autumn Hill, who was present at the demonstration but left the area prior to the shooting, was taken into custody and charged with most of the same charges as the other nine. On July 6th, Maricella Rueda's husband, Daniel Sanchez Estrada, was surveilled and subsequently arrested following a jail call between the two. He was not involved, and he doesn't know anything about anything. Like, um, circumstances. Which is the truth. Obviously, yeah. This is too dangerous for you. I understand. But like, just take care of my baby. Yeah. My car is parked on the 2400 blocks of 56th street. Yeah, so the person, I'm in contact with the person already, but we don't have a key. I know. Toit. Yeah, that's what we figured out today. So, um, Toit, my phone is in the back. If you can, either get somebody to, you know, get in there, however they can, or get a locksmith to get all my stuff out. Already went to your house, we need. I don't know exactly like the charges, but she called me this morning. Johnson County. Yeah. You don't, she didn't tell you anything. That's your spouse, right? Yeah, I don't know anything about this. Yeah, that is my wife. I'm just playing catch up, but you don't, I mean, you don't have to tell me what you're talking about. Did she tell you what happened? Uh, no. What do you think happened? So, the charges are, um, I mean, she's got some severe charges, man. Like what? It's aggravated assault and then terrorism. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. You don't know anything about it. No, no, no, like I was shocked when she was arrested. Like, where are you? Did you have a play? That is it? Yeah. For towing Maricella's vehicle, which contained medical supplies, water, and a box of scenes from a wide range of social causes, Daniel was charged with corruptly concealing documents and conspiracy to conceal documents. Around the same time, Benjamin Song still hiding in a field near the detention facility, contacted a friend to help him escape. Cell phone data obtained by a federal search warrant show that Song's phone continued checking in with cell towers near the facility before suddenly checking into a cell tower in Dallas and going dark after July 7th. For over a week, Song was moved to various locations, while his friends who helped along the way were being arrested and interrogated, eventually ending with the FBI arresting him at a Dallas apartment. Benjamin Song was charged with riot, providing material support to terrorists, conspiracy to use and carry an explosive, use and carry an explosive, three counts of attempted murder of officers and employees of the United States, and three counts of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Though the federal government maintains in its court filings that the demonstration was a coordinated terror attack, Autumn Hill, in an interview with Uncloseted Media, maintains that her role, along with many of her co-defendants, was not rooted in terror. We did what's called a noise demonstration, which is a pretty typical form of protest. You know, you show up outside of a building where something is going on that you and your friends might disagree with, and you make a lot of noise to signal your presence and dissents. But Michael was to let the people inside the detainees know, "Hey, we're here. We know that you were there. You haven't been forgotten." Bale was set at $5 million per charge, many defendants, including those who aided Benjamin after the shooting, pled guilty to their charges and received lighter sentences for their cooperation with authorities. While most of those who took part in the demonstration went to trial, each of the defendants who went to trial were found guilty, and given decades-long sentences, and are currently facing additional state charges. Additionally, Daniel Sanchez, who never attended the demonstration, and Autumn Hill, who left before shots were fired, were found guilty on all counts and received 30 years and 50 years in federal prison. Signal messages stored in the notification cache recovered from Evan's phone, revealed that Rueita and Song discussed bringing rifles hours before the noise demonstration took place, with Song believing that bringing more than one rifle would possibly make officers back off. For his role, Benjamin was found guilty on all counts and sentenced to 100 years in prison. In total, 22 people were arrested for their role in the demonstration, shooting or for aiding songs escaped from authorities. Officer Gross was airlifted the night he was shot, was discharged hours later, and acted as a primary witness in the federal case against the prairie Land Demonstrators.