2 accused of hindering arrest of FBI Most Wanted suspect in Alvarado ICE attack
John Phillip Thomas and Lynette Read Sharp
ALVARADO, Texas - Two suspects are now accused of hindering the arrest of a military veteran after an "ambush" at an ICE detention center in Alvarado.
Benjamin Song was on the run until Tuesday after the July 4 attempt to lure and kill officers at the Prairieland Detention Center.
New suspects named in Alvarado ICE attack
The latest:
John Phillip Thomas and Lynette Read Sharp are among 14 total suspects accused in the Alvarado incident. According to a criminal complaint obtained by FOX 4, the pair played a part in preventing Song from being captured after the shooting.
The document says Thomas and Sharp assisted the group by organizing Signal group chats to plan the attack, as well as helping Song move discretely after the alleged attack. In particular, the document notes a July 7 arrangement by Sharp to move Song from Thomas to an unidentified person.
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Ten people face charges, including attempted murder of an officer, after a Fourth of July ambush at an ICE detention center in Alvarado left a police officer wounded.
Neither Thomas nor Sharp appear to have been involved physically in the July 4 incident in Alvarado. Sharp is reported to have dropped out shortly beforehand, telling a group chat that she was tied up with "family problems," but offering to monitor the chat and send money to support the operation. Thomas allegedly administered chats and picked Song up in Alvarado after the shooting.
Due to the belief that Thomas and Sharp were aware of Song’s alleged intentions and actions, they are accused of hindering an attempted murderer’s apprehension. Their criminal complaint was signed on Monday evening.
Thomas was arrested on July 10, and Sharp on July 13. Thomas is being held on a $5 million bond for a smuggling of persons charge, and Sharp is being held on a $2.5 million bond for a charge of hindering prosecution of terrorism.
Benjamin Song captured
Benjamin Hanil Song (Source: FBI)
The backstory:
Benjamin Hanil Song, 32, of Dallas, is charged with six felonies in relation to the ambush at the Prairieland Detention Center. Song is believed to have fired towards two correctional officers and one Alvarado Police Department officer. One of the officers was struck in the neck, and is expected to recover.
Later on Tuesday evening, the Department of Justice announced that Song had been captured in Dallas.
Song is believed to have hidden in woods near the detention center overnight after the attack, before allegedly being picked up and assisted by Thomas, and later by Sharp.
On July 9, a Blue Alert was sent out following Song’s identification. Soon after, he was added to the FBI’s Most Wanted list. He remains on the run at the time of reporting.
Attempted murder suspects
Dig deeper:
The first 10 suspects arrested in connection with the attack is below. The suspects are believed to have been on the scene in Alvarado, allegedly luring the officers out to be killed.
- Cameron Arnold of Dallas, Texas (No mugshot available)
- Savanna Batten of Fort Worth, Texas (No mugshot available)
- Nathan Baumann of College Station, Texas
- Zachary Evetts of Waxahachie, Texas
- Joy Gibson of Dallas, Texas
- Bradford Morris of Dallas, Texas (No mugshot available)
- Maricela Rueda of Fort Worth, Texas
- Seth Sikes of Kennedale, Texas
- Elizabeth Soto of Fort Worth, Texas
- Ines Soto of Fort Worth, Texas
If convicted, they could face 10 years to life in prison.
One was charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly attempting to conceal and destroy evidence.
The Source: Information in this report comes from federal court filings and previous FOX 4 coverage.