It was, in some ways, an all too familiar set of circumstances. A shocking shooting followed by a near-instantaneous search for answers as to the motive, with people examining a message written on a bullet in hopes of understanding the situation.

Similar to the assassination of Charlie Kirk just two weeks ago, a killing of at least one detainee at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas, which also resulted in serious injuries to two other detainees, quickly generated a conflicting array of information and opinion on Wednesday.

Federal authorities said that the shooter had opened fire from the roof of a nearby building, firing “indiscriminately,” and hitting several victims. The gunman, identified as Joshua Jahn, 29, died of self-inflicted gunshot wounds, officials said.

Vice President JD Vance labeled the shooter as a “violent left-wing extremist” at a speaking event in North Carolina. He said that information not yet made public proved “this person was politically motivated,” without elaborating on what evidence the government had.

The Times, in interviews with authorities and others about the shooting, has not independently verified Mr. Vance’s description of the shooter or a motive; Mr. Jahn, who had an extensive online profile, had voted in a Democratic primary in 2020 in Texas, but showed little obvious interest in politics.

Mr. Vance also engaged in a high-profile clash about the Dallas shooting with Jon Favreau, a prominent progressive podcast host, as well as Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, who Mr. Vance suggested had helped foster a dangerous environment with anti-ICE rhetoric. President Trump also suggested liberals were to blame for the violence.