Two individuals are now facing terrorism charges linked to a shooting that occurred on July 4 outside the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas. This marks the first instance of such charges against someone alleged to have connections to Antifa.
Cameron Arnold from Dallas and Zachary Evetts from Waxahachie are the two men indicted by a federal grand jury. They both face seven charges, which include three counts related to the discharge of a firearm during, or in furtherance of, a violent crime, along with three counts of attempting to murder U.S. officers and employees.
In addition to these charges, both Arnold and Evetts are suspected of providing material support to terrorist activities.
The accusations arise from a shooting incident at the detention center, where officials reported that corrections officers from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) initiated an investigation after a group known as the North Texas Antifa Cell—consisting of at least 11 masked operatives dressed in black, some armed with firearms and bulletproof vests—set off fireworks inside the facility.
When authorities arrived, an individual in black, later identified as Arnold, reportedly fired a rifle at an officer, hitting him in the neck. Prosecutors noted that Arnold kept shooting until his rifle malfunctioned, allowing him to escape with other members of the group.
Before the shooting, it seems this “cell” had been plotting the attack. The indictment claims the intention was to “destroy U.S. government property, influence government policy, and commit acts that endanger human life to intimidate and coerce government action.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi posted a photo of the indictment on social media platform X, citing President Trump’s recent executive order naming Antifa a terrorist organization.
“As @POTUS has made clear, Antifa is a left-wing terrorist organization,” Bondi stated in her post. “They will be prosecuted accordingly.”
Trump’s order described Antifa as “organizing and carrying out a nationwide campaign of violence and terrorism through illegal means,” with the goal of destabilizing government and law enforcement.
This executive action has raised alarms regarding a potential crackdown on left-leaning groups in the country. Experts point out that Antifa lacks a centralized structure, making it more challenging to address.
