In brief
Joshua Jahn, aged 29, opened fire at a Dallas immigration facility, killing two detainees before taking his own life. His parents described him as a 'loner' obsessed with artificial intelligence, who had undergone a troubling transformation after moving home from Washington state. They reported he became convinced he suffered from radiation sickness and displayed unusual behaviors, including wearing gloves to avoid plastic contact. A shooting practice session in Oklahoma shortly before the attack further raised alarms about his mental state. The tragedy has prompted discussions on gun control and mental health in the U.S.
The parents of the 29-year-old gunman who opened fire on a Dallas immigration facility in September told police their son was “completely normal” before he moved to Washington state and returned home several years ago believing he had radiation sickness, according to newly released records.
Joshua Jahn had begun wearing cotton gloves to avoid contact with plastic and practiced target shooting with a newly purchased rifle in Oklahoma a month before the deadly rooftop attack on a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building. Jahn killed two detainees and wounded another before taking his own life in the Sept. 24 shooting.
The records, obtained by The Associated Press through an open records request, reveal no clues about what may have motivated the attack. Federal authorities said previously that Jahn wrote 'ANTI-ICE' on a bullet and left handwritten notes indicating he wanted to ambush and terrorize ICE agents.
On the day of the shooting, Jahn’s parents told the FBI he would “occasionally discuss current events” with his mother but rarely engaged in conversations. His parents said he was a “loner” who was “obsessed” with artificial intelligence technology. The parents did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The documents portray Jahn as an unemployed, friendless young man who had withdrawn into playing computer games in his bedroom at his parents’ home. Jahn was not diagnosed with or treated for any mental or physical disorders, according to his parents.
After returning from Washington state, Jahn exhibited behaviors suggesting he believed he was suffering from radiation sickness, which he feared he contracted from a facility where he worked. His family life was reportedly marked by pressure and conflicts, leading to a fractured home atmosphere.
About a month before the shooting, Jahn practiced shooting with his father. The gun used in the attack was legally acquired, although his mother claimed she had no knowledge of it. This tragic incident raises questions about mental health support, home environments, and gun control measures in the U.S.