Eight Sentenced to 30-100 Years for 2025 Texas Detention Center Shooting

Benjamin Song, a former United States Marine reservist, was sentenced to 100 years in federal prison on June 23, 2026, for shooting and wounding a police officer during a July 4, 2025, demonstration outside the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas. U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor imposed the maximum term after Song’s March 2026 conviction on attempted murder charges.

Seven other defendants received prison sentences ranging from 30 to 70 years the same day. Autumn Hill and Savanna Batten each drew 50-year terms. Daniel Sanchez Estrada was sentenced to 30 years after conviction on charges of corruptly concealing a document and conspiracy to conceal documents.

All but one of the eight defendants were convicted on terrorism charges. The Justice Department described the sentencings as the first involving defendants affiliated with antifa following President Donald Trump’s September 22 executive order designating the group a domestic terrorist organization.

Judge O’Connor stated that the July 2025 events constituted an assault on democracy rather than a protest and that the need to deter this type of conduct is high.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the sentences show that antifa terrorists who attack law enforcement and federal facilities will face swift and uncompromising justice. Defense attorney Philip Hayes stated that the defendants were young adults who intended no one to be hurt and no shots to be fired. Hayes added that Song will appeal the 100-year sentence.

Prosecutors told jurors that the group brought firearms, first aid kits, and wore body armor. They stated that Song yelled “Get to the rifles” before opening fire. Some defendants had pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists.

Last week, federal prosecutors charged 15 people in Minnesota with impeding the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, claiming the demonstrators were members of antifa.