A 20-year-old man from Grand Island has been charged in federal court following an alleged attack involving a Molotov cocktail near a federal building that houses U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
U.S. Attorney Lesley Woods announced that Eulisis Martin was arrested on Monday and formally charged this week with attempting to maliciously damage federal property using explosive materials. If convicted, Martin could face a prison sentence ranging from five to ten years and a fine of up to $250,000.
According to court documents filed by FBI Special Agent Jennifer Shipman, employees of HSI and ICE discovered graffiti reading “KILL ICE” on the exterior and a window of their building at 703 South Webb Road in Grand Island when they arrived for work on June 9.
The following morning, cleaning staff discovered a broken glass jar containing fabric—believed to be part of an American flag—soaked in what smelled like gasoline. The jar, located inside a fenced area of the building, was identified as a possible Molotov cocktail, a type of improvised incendiary weapon.
Surveillance footage from a nearby business reportedly showed a light-colored sedan arriving at the scene around 1:15 a.m. on June 9. A person dressed in dark clothing was seen exiting the vehicle, approaching the building through a fence gap, and making a throwing motion accompanied by a flicker of light.
Days later, a Grand Island police officer noticed a man running near the federal building. Upon closer inspection, officers found several government vehicles with slashed tires. A license plate reader later matched a white Buick Lucerne—linked to Martin—near the scene. The vehicle was eventually located in a rural area, and Martin was taken into custody soon after.
Martin appeared in U.S. District Court in Lincoln on Wednesday to face the federal charges.
In a press statement, U.S. Attorney Woods said acts of violence or threats against federal law enforcement or federal agencies will not be tolerated in Nebraska. “Federal officers are charged with upholding the law and deserve to do so in safety,” she said. “Those who target them will be held accountable.”
Eugene Kowel, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Omaha Field Office, echoed that message, adding that while the public has a right to peaceful protest, violent and criminal acts will be met with full legal consequences.
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