Attacker who opened fire on Border Patrol in McAllen, Texas, identified as Ryan Louis Mosqueda

The shooter who, armed with a rifle and tactical gear, opened fire on Border Patrol agents in McAllen, Texas, was identified as Ryan Louis Mosqueda, a 27-year-old Michigan resident.

Mosqueda fired "many dozens of rounds" at a federal building housing border agents at the McAllen International Airport, according to Police Chief Victor Rodriguez later recounted. The attacker was killed in the shootout with officers.

Rodriguez reported that one member of his force was wounded in the knee: Ismael Garcia, an officer with a decade of experience. He is in a local hospital, but his life is not at risk. Hours earlier, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) put the number of victims of the attack at three: two officers and one employee of the border agency.

"We have no reason to believe at this point in time that there are any more particular threats," Rodriguez said in the afternoon. The incident forced the rerouting of traffic and affected airport activity.

According to local authorities, Mosqueda was driving a car with a Michigan license plate on which a message was found spray-painted with what appeared to be Latin words. They also found a vehicle near the crime scene with several weapons.

It is not known at this time if he had a criminal record. At 4 am on the day of the attack, a missing person alarm had been issued. His father, Jose Mosqueda, reportedly told a police officer that his son had a "mental deficiency" and was carrying weapons in his vehicle, according to local media Telemundo 40.

The FBI confirmed Mosqueda's identity. Its San Antonio branch opened an investigation. The motivation for the attack is unknown, but official sources assured that it had been an intentional ambush against border agents.

Other attacks in Texas

The attack in McAllen comes just days after another attack against ICE agents in Texas, in which a local police officer was injured. In the last hours, it was learned that the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed charges against ten people.

According to the complaint, distributed by journalist Matt Finn, the suspects fired fireworks at the Prairileand detention center in Alvarado. They were wearing black military gear. One walked away from the group and began drawing graffiti on vehicles parked in the center's parking lot.

When a police officer arrived in response to a 911 call, one of the attackers shot him near the neck. Another, according to the court filing, unloaded between 20 and 30 rounds at correctional officers leaving the facility. None were armed.

The agents found graffiti and pamphlets that read "fight ICE terror with class war!" and "free all political prisoners," as well as a banner reading "resist fascism - fight oligarchy."

Also found were AR-15 type weapons, light semi-automatic rifles, bulletproof vests, radios and telephones inside a Faraday bag, to block telephone signals.

From the Prosecutor's Office they defined the attack as a "planned ambush, with the intent to kill ICE correction officers". "Make no mistake this was not a so called peacefull protest".

"I bet these idiots will plead insanity because they would have to be insane to do this in Texas," said the state's governor, Greg Abbott, who pledged to cooperate with federal authorities and, if possible, bring state charges. "We want these thugs to never see the light of day again."

Also in the last few hours, authorities reported another ambush against border agents in Dallas. After evading authorities on Monday, a Salvadoran national fled to his home. When they caught up with him, the agents were "ambushed and assaulted" by three family members of the fugitive, according to Michael W. Banks, chief of the U.S. Border Patrol.

All were in the country illegally, he said. Four adults, two men and two women, will be charged and begin deportation proceedings. In addition, a 17-year-old who punched an agent in the face will be charged and prosecuted.

In a subsequent publication, Banks called for the prosecution of not only those who attack uniformed border agents, but also those who "incite" them: "It is not acceptable to incite violence against law enforcement officers. We're gonna have to prosecute these people to the fullest extent of the law to let them know that this is not going to be tolerated."

From the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), they also condemned the attacks, noting that attacks against ICE members had escalated 700%, an increase with over the 500% reported last month. "We're seeing open season against our law enforcement."