Jurors will hear closing arguments on Wednesday in a domestic terrorism case that has stretched over two weeks, as a federal judge reminded attorneys to “consider the jury.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Smith rested the government’s case late Tuesday. Each of the nine defendants also reste d without calling any witnesses. Jurors heard extensive testimony about data extracted from the defendants’ cell phones. Smith argued the data showed coordination to ambush a police officer. An Alvarado police lieutenant was shot in the neck around 11 p.m. July 4, 2025, shortly after arriving at the Prairieland ICE detention center in North Texas. The lieutenant, Thomas Gross, testified on the first day of witness testimony, Feb. 24. On the stand on Tuesday, FBI Special Agent Clark Wiethorn, the lead investigator, said during cross-examination that the evidence presented pointed to a deliberate attack. “I believe Lt. Gross was absolutely ambushed,” Wiethorn told a defense attorney. Attorneys for the defendants have argued their clients were exercising their First Amendment right to peaceful protest that night. They say no shots were fired until Gross arrived on scene and that earlier interactions with two detention officers were unremarkable. The nine defendants on trial — who have pleaded not guilty — are Cameron Arnold, Zachary Evetts, Benjamin Hanil Song, Savanna Batten, Bradford Morris, Maricela Rueda, Elizabeth Soto, Ines Soto and Daniel Rolando Sanchez Estrada. Song is charged with attempted murder of officers and employees of the United States and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. The remaining defendants, aside from Sanchez Estrada, are charged with rioting, providing material support to terrorists and conspiracy to use an explosive. Defense attorneys say the group brought fireworks to the Prairieland facility in North Texas to shoot them off in solidarity with detainees inside, not as an act of aggression toward law enforcement. U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman ruled prosecutors will have 75 minutes for closing arguments. Each defendant will receive 15 minutes after both sides initially requested more time. Closing arguments are expected to last more than three hours on Wednesday. Jurors are scheduled to begin deliberations on Thursday morning. “You can only require people to listen to that much,” Pittman said outside the presence of the jury. “Subjecting them to more, it becomes strenuous, repetitive and torturous.” Alvarado Feb 25 Surveillance video and cell phone evidence, day three of ICE Prairieland shooting trial continues Alvarado Feb 24 Day 2: Testimony begins for Prairieland ICE detention center shooting Crime and Courts Feb 23 Location change, new court rules follow mistrial in FW federal case tied to ICE Prairieland shooting Crime and Courts Feb 18 Judge declares mistrial in Prairieland ICE center shooting case over attorney's T-shirt ...read more read less