Two suspects have been accused with helping Benjamin Hanil Song, a military veteran, avoid arrest after he tried to attack an ICE detention centre in Alvarado, Texas.John Phillip Thomas and Lynette Read Sharp are among 14 people accused in connection with the July 4 attack at the Prairieland Detention Centre. According to a criminal complaint, both are charged with hindering the arrest of Benjamin Hanil Song, the alleged gunman, as reported by Fox News.Authorities say Thomas and Sharp did not participate directly in the shooting but helped Song avoid capture afterward. Investigators allege they coordinated using encrypted Signal group chats to plan the attack and manage Song’s movements. The complaint states that on July 7, Sharp planned to transfer Song from Thomas to another unidentified person.Sharp reportedly withdrew from the July 4 plan shortly before the incident, citing “family problems,” but continued to monitor chats and offered financial help. Thomas allegedly ran the chat groups and picked up Song after the shooting.Due to evidence that they knew about Song’s intentions and actions, both are accused of hindering an attempted murderer’s apprehension. Their criminal complaint was signed on Monday evening. Thomas was arrested on July 10 and is being held on a $5 million bond for a charge of smuggling people. Sharp was arrested on July 13 and is being held on a $2.5 million bond for hindering the prosecution of terrorism.The main suspect, Benjamin Hanil Song, is charged with six felonies related to the ambush. He is accused of firing at two correctional officers and one Alvarado Police Department officer. One officer was shot in the neck and is expected to recover.Song reportedly hid in the woods near the detention centre after the attack before being picked up and helped by Thomas and Sharp. Following his identification, a Blue Alert was issued on July 9, and he was added to the FBI’s Most Wanted list.On Tuesday evening, the department of justice announced that Song had been captured in Dallas. Previously, the FBI had announced a $25,000 reward for information leading to Song’s arrest.
