There's been a lot of rumbling about the Prairieland anti-ICE, he shot a cop argument. I've uncovered the real story.

When local police officer Lieutenant Thomas Gross arrived on the scene, called by a Prairieland warden, most protesters had headed home. Yet the officer still pulled his gun, aiming at the back of a fleeing straggler, prompting another protester named Benjamin Song to fire eight rounds of suppressive fire. Lieutenant Gross was grazed in the shoulder and, after a brief stint at the hospital, fully recovered.

The federal government argued during trial that Song had fired directly at Gross. Song’s lawyer, however, claimed that the bullet—which shows evidence of impact with a hard surface—was a ricochet and that Song’s actions likely saved the lives of the other protesters. Song’s support team goes even further and, pointing to recently released camera footage, claims that the ricochet was from Gross’s own shot and that Song shot into the ground 60 feet away from Gross.

“I never want to see anyone get hurt,” said Song in a statement released after their sentencing. “I never want to see good people, standing up for what they believe in, gunned down in the street. What we all saw happen to Renee Good and Alex Pretti is my worst nightmare.”

In March, Song was convicted of attempted murder and, on Tuesday, sentenced to 100 years in prison.

45 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

In March, Song was convicted of attempted murder and, on Tuesday, sentenced to 100 years in prison.

First of all, you come across as biased as you are anti-government.

All government bad / all citizens good, right?

Do you have video footage evidence of anything?

33 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

First of all, you come across as biased as you are anti-government.

All government bad / all citizens good, right?

Do you have video footage evidence of anything?

How about you for video footage? I rely on the printed word.

I am pretty anti-govt...when they commit egregious acts against people, immigrants or not. These people are certainly not terrorists. I probably think people carrying loaded guns are terrorists!

What's your source?

4 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

There's been a lot of rumbling about the Prairieland anti-ICE, he shot a cop argument. I've uncovered the real story.

When local police officer Lieutenant Thomas Gross arrived on the scene, called by a Prairieland warden, most protesters had headed home. Yet the officer still pulled his gun, aiming at the back of a fleeing straggler, prompting another protester named Benjamin Song to fire eight rounds of suppressive fire. Lieutenant Gross was grazed in the shoulder and, after a brief stint at the hospital, fully recovered.

The federal government argued during trial that Song had fired directly at Gross. Song’s lawyer, however, claimed that the bullet—which shows evidence of impact with a hard surface—was a ricochet and that Song’s actions likely saved the lives of the other protesters. Song’s support team goes even further and, pointing to recently released camera footage, claims that the ricochet was from Gross’s own shot and that Song shot into the ground 60 feet away from Gross.

“I never want to see anyone get hurt,” said Song in a statement released after their sentencing. “I never want to see good people, standing up for what they believe in, gunned down in the street. What we all saw happen to Renee Good and Alex Pretti is my worst nightmare.”

In March, Song was convicted of attempted murder and, on Tuesday, sentenced to 100 years in prison.

Many of us would like to see the ICE agent terrorists sentenced to life in prison or face the death penalty. Yet, they seem to be untouchable, save for a hoagie thrown at them on occasion. They hazards of mustard!

10 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

I am pretty anti-govt...when they commit egregious acts against people, immigrants or not. These people are certainly not terrorists. I probably think people carrying loaded guns are terrorists!

Yes, but human beings commit horrible acts against other human beings all the time.

In those instances, law enforcement is your only friend.

1 hour ago, save the frogs said:

Yes, but human beings commit horrible acts against other human beings all the time.

In those instances, law enforcement is your only friend.

I dated a gal whose father was the local chief of police. He said he was scared spitless to ever have to trust his own police force. Law enforcement is made up of fallible humans who commit horrible acts against other human beings all the time.

6 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

I dated a gal whose father was the local chief of police. He said he was scared spitless to ever have to trust his own police force. Law enforcement is made up of fallible humans who commit horrible acts against other human beings all the time.

No, the anti-government crowd loves to exaggerate how bad cops are.

It's 1% of cops who are bad maybe. Or maybe a bit higher.

With bodycams now, they can't get away with bad behavior anymore.

Cops have one of the hardest job in the world. They are risking their lives. And it must be hard on the psyche to deal with the criminal element of society day in and day out.

Also, if there is corruption by police in some parts of the world, it's largely because they don't get paid enough for the dangerous work they're doing.

14 hours ago, save the frogs said:

First of all, you come across as biased as you are anti-government.

All government bad / all citizens good, right?

Do you have video footage evidence of anything?

Back in the day, the government looked after the citizens.

When the civil war breaks out in the USA, I'll be funding the citizens.

15 minutes ago, StreetCowboy said:

Back in the day, the government looked after the citizens.

When the civil war breaks out in the USA, I'll be funding the citizens.

Why would a civil war need to break out?

Based on fake news that ICE are "terrorists"?

By media controlled by enemies of Trump that want to take him down?

Or ... you lost me ...

2 hours ago, save the frogs said:

No, the anti-government crowd loves to exaggerate how bad cops are.

It's 1% of cops who are bad maybe. Or maybe a bit higher.

With bodycams now, they can't get away with bad behavior anymore.

Cops have one of the hardest job in the world. They are risking their lives. And it must be hard on the psyche to deal with the criminal element of society day in and day out.

Also, if there is corruption by police in some parts of the world, it's largely because they don't get paid enough for the dangerous work they're doing.

This is true, it being only a small percentage that goes haywire, although there are many that are close to the edge. This comes from their own stress of daily harsh situations, or an underlying mental illness that wasn't spotted earlier.

Becoming a policeman is a power trip for many, where they can use force against others and think they're above the law. Some go into it wanting to help others. That many are called out and busted is evident, but compared to the whole sum of police forces worldwide, it's still a small percentage.

It is definitely a very hard job outside of country areas, and especially in large crime riddled cities. You pull someone over for a broken taillight and they might be hiding something and holding a gun.

1 hour ago, fredwiggy said:

You pull someone over for a broken taillight and they might be hiding something and holding a gun.

Yes, this happens frequently.

I was into the Law&Crime channel for a while.

Scary stuff. A lot of dangerous people out there.

Bodycams are supposed to limit police corruption. Everything is recorded now.

Do Thai cops have bodycams? Not even sure.

3 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Yes, this happens frequently.

I was into the Law&Crime channel for a while.

Scary stuff. A lot of dangerous people out there.

Bodycams are supposed to limit police corruption. Everything is recorded now.

Do Thai cops have bodycams? Not even sure.

Yes, they have them here also. I've known many police and sold guns to many also. Heard a lot of stories while working at my store from them and Border patrol. My police friends here wear them also.

14 hours ago, Trippy said:

What's your source?

Sorry--The Nation, July 1 https://www.thenation.com/article/society/prairieland-defendants-texas/

22 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Yes, they have them here also. I've known many police and sold guns to many also. Heard a lot of stories while working at my store from them and Border patrol. My police friends here wear them also.

Fred, I know who curiosity killed--probably more people than guns! But I'm curious about what led to by a gun store owner, in Texas?

I've only driven across Texas once, the northern Panhandle. Pretty bleak. Stopped a few times, talked to Texas. Rednecks with those Dubya accents. But maybe good customers for guns.

I also flew to Houston once. Like a giant strip mall. But all those brands of tequila were wonderful!

32 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Yes, this happens frequently.

I was into the Law&Crime channel for a while.

Scary stuff. A lot of dangerous people out there.

Bodycams are supposed to limit police corruption. Everything is recorded now.

Do Thai cops have bodycams? Not even sure.

You only find trouble if you're looking for it. Or by sheer bad luck. A paranoid life not worth living.

3 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Fred, I know who curiosity killed--probably more people than guns! But I'm curious about what led to by a gun store owner, in Texas?

I've only driven across Texas once, the northern Panhandle. Pretty bleak. Stopped a few times, talked to Texas. Rednecks with those Dubya accents. But maybe good customers for guns.

I also flew to Houston once. Like a giant strip mall. But all those brands of tequila were wonderful!

Hundreds of thousands living in Texas are from the east coast and California, along with many from the Midwest. There are rednecks all over, including the northern states. Texas is huge and has all types of environments, from desert to pine woods, beaches to mountains, and flat areas miles across. Have an empty bottle of Cazadores tequila on my desktop table, brought back from Texas. I don't know what your second sentence refers to.

2 hours ago, save the frogs said:

Why would a civil war need to break out?

Based on fake news that ICE are "terrorists"?

By media controlled by enemies of Trump that want to take him down?

Or ... you lost me ...

Hm, okay. There are the Proud Boys and Antifa. There are issues some Americans won't let stand, on both sides. America's divided, along colour-lines, class lines, income & wealth lines, and political lines. That sure sounds like a powder-keg to me.

6 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

You only find trouble if you're looking for it. Or by sheer bad luck. A paranoid life not worth living.

I'm talking about cops here.

They will find trouble because they need to look for it.

4 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Hm, okay. There are the Proud Boys and Antifa. There are issues some Americans won't let stand, on both sides. America's divided, along colour-lines, class lines, income & wealth lines, and political lines. That sure sounds like a powder-keg to me.

You forgot to mention a lot of people are looking for blood because they can't sort out their own lives.

17 hours ago, save the frogs said:

First of all, you come across as biased as you are anti-government.

All government bad / all citizens good, right?

Do you have video footage evidence of anything?

When bullets are flying, I'm sure nobody whips out their phones! I would rely more on ballistics. But I have no idea if a ballistics report was part of the trial, do you?

6 hours ago, save the frogs said:

Yes, but human beings commit horrible acts against other human beings all the time.

In those instances, law enforcement is your only friend.

You may be too young to remember when cops helped children and old people across the street. Then they became more aggressive with the slogan, "To serve and protect". And now in the US, they have become militarised. The military sends its $500 hammers as scrap to local police forces so they can buy new toys.

16 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

You may be too young to remember when cops helped children and old people across the street. Then they became more aggressive with the slogan, "To serve and protect". And now in the US, they have become militarised. The military sends its $500 hammers as scrap to local police forces so they can buy new toys.

So you recently went to the US and a cop harassed you?

ICE has to be tough .... some of the people they are arresting were in narco gangs back home.

36 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

You may be too young to remember when cops helped children and old people across the street.

This is my last post here.

Cops are scary bad dudes, right?

Here, try an experiment. Take the cops off the streets and let me know if you survive more than 48 hours before someone assaults you or robs you or both.

Edited July 5Jul 5 by save the frogs

1 hour ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Sorry--The Nation, July 1 https://www.thenation.com/article/society/prairieland-defendants-texas/

Read this if you want to know the truth. It's left leaning, but not crazy left extreme like your source.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Prairieland_ICE_detention_center_incident

42 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

So you recently went to the US and a cop harassed you?

ICE has to be tough .... some of the people they are arresting were in narco gangs back home.

I can actually only remembered being stopped twice in the US. Once for following the cop's direction the wrong way down a one way street!

ICE does not have to be brutal thugs! Why should guys in a narco gang give them any more trouble than anyone else? They may be dangerous in certain contexts, say, "back home" or pursuing gang-related activities in the US or in prison gangs.

But they're not dangerous in the face of overwhelming force.

No excuse for ICE!

31 minutes ago, Trippy said:

Read this if you want to know the truth. It's left leaning, but not crazy left extreme like your source.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Prairieland_ICE_detention_center_incident

AI: The Nation is generally considered a highly reliable source for factual reporting, though it operates from an explicitly progressive and left-leaning editorial perspective. It is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the U.S. and self-identifies as the "flagship of the left".

It's been going since 1865. I would hardly called them extremist.

Thank you for the informative Wiki.

However, the Wikipedia article does not mention the cop drawing his gun as protestors are leaving. It gives the impression that Song shot the cop in the neck as soon as he arrived on-scene. But the Wiki says he's hidden in a forest.

There are all kinds of discrepancies pointed out in the Wiki. [The cop] was airlifted to a hospital, and was released less than 24 hours later. Did Song target the cop? Was it a richochet from Song's or the cop's gun? We'll never know.

The property destruction is immaterial to me. However, I can't support masks, either on protestors or police. No one should EVER bring a gun to a demonstration.

This is one more example of the gun problem out of control in the US.

I grew up in the time of SDS, before Weatherman. They were deluded, too. Violence never fixes anything.

There obviously had to be arrests and prison sentences for some of the protestors. Certainly, not all of them should have been charged. But these enormous sentences were not justified, esp as the judge did not mention 'terrorism' to the jury.

If these are the kinds of "terrorists" America is afraid of, what about real terrorists?

3 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Hm, okay. There are the Proud Boys and Antifa. There are issues some Americans won't let stand, on both sides. America's divided, along colour-lines, class lines, income & wealth lines, and political lines. That sure sounds like a powder-keg to me.

Especially along paranoia lines.

The sentences are very high for the charges. Why was a cop firing at a protester that was leaving?

There are three identifiable ‘zines pictured in the Wikipedia article about the Prairieland protest.

They’re words not bombs. Incendiary literature, perhaps, but would anybody fall for this crap?

Read for yourself. No censorship! And certainly no prison!

“Another Critique of Insurrectionism”:

https://dn760105.eu.archive.org/0/items/AnotherCritiqueOfInsurrectionalism/another-critique-insurrectionalism-IMPOSED.pdf

“It’s Vacant, Take It!” is a ‘zine from Homes Not Jails about squatting in vacant properties: https://dn790008.ca.archive.org/0/items/ItsVacantTakeIt/its-vacant-take-it-IMPOSED.pdf

“War in the Streets: Tactical Lessons from the Global Civil War, Vol. I” is certainly a bit too…riotous…for me. https://illwilleditions.noblogs.org/files/2016/12/War-in-the-Streets-revised-READ.pdf

Seven more people were sentenced to prison on terrorism charges in Texas for attending a protest outside the Prairieland ICE jail last July Fourth, during which fireworks were set off and a police officer was shot and wounded.

All but one of the defendants sentenced Wednesday had pleaded guilty and were handed between two and 15 years in prison. Ines Soto, who did not take a plea, was convicted of providing material support to terrorists and other charges and sentenced to 50 years in prison.

And you say the US is not a police state?