ICE facility attack: Blue alert sent for military veteran suspected in shooting - what is it

Blue alert has been issued in Texas as authorities continue their search for a 12th suspect in what officials describe as a July 4 “ambush” at the ICE detention facility in Alvarado, Fox4 reported. Benjamin Hanil Song of Dallas faces six pending charges for allegedly opening fire on two correctional officers and an Alvarado police officer during the Prairieland detention center ambush.The suspect, a former US Marine Corps Reservist of five years, allegedly used two AR-15-style rifles to fire at three officers during the ambush.Moreover, the FBI has offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to Song's arrest. A Blue alert is a public safety notification system used to help locate and apprehend suspects who have seriously injured or killed a law enforcement officer. Much like Amber or Silver alerts, it leverages broadcast and digital platforms to quickly inform the public and encourage tips that may lead to an arrest. To issue a Blue alert, specific conditions must be met: a law enforcement officer must have been killed or critically injured; the suspect must pose a serious threat to the public or other officers; and there must be identifying information such as a vehicle description or license plate that can be shared widely. Additionally, the investigating agency must recommend activation to the Texas department of public safety. Currently, Texas is one of 34 US states that operate a Blue alert system, using it as a tool to engage the public in high-priority manhunts where officer safety and community risk are at stake.