A 26-year-old Colombian man was fatally shot by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Biddeford, Maine, on Monday morning. Federal officials state the incident occurred during a targeted removal operation. The Department of Homeland Security Inspector General and the FBI have launched an investigation into the deadly use of force.
The Fatal Encounter on Pool Street
The shooting took place around 7 a.m. on Monday at the intersection of Pool and Hill streets. According to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security, ICE officers were conducting surveillance at the last known address of an individual subject to a final order of removal. When the man attempted to drive away, agents intervened.
The agency reported that the subject attempted to flee in a vehicle in the direction of the officer and was fatally shot.
While federal officials have not publicly released the man’s identity, a family friend identified him to local news as Joan Sebastian Guerrero. The Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition later confirmed the victim was a 26-year-old man from Colombia.
Conflicting Accounts and Witness Observations
Eyewitness reports from residents in the immediate vicinity provide a different perspective on the moments leading up to the gunfire. Em Akerley, who lives in an apartment overlooking the intersection, told BostonGlobe.com that she saw a white vehicle moving slowly as if the driver had lost control, with officers in vests attempting to corral it. She stated that an unmarked vehicle then wedged the car against the curb before the shooting began.
Another neighbor, Brinkman, described hearing law enforcement shouting commands at the driver. She reported hearing officers yell, Do not get out of the car. Do not get out the car.
Audio captured by a nearby doorbell camera, which was reviewed by news outlets, appears to record at least four gunshots.
Federal Investigation and Official Responses
The investigation into the shooting has been escalated to federal authorities. Sen. Susan Collins confirmed that the Boston office of the DHS Inspector General has assumed control of the inquiry, with assistance from the FBI. Maine State Police and the state’s Attorney General’s Office are also involved in the review of the incident.
“I know that situations like these are alarming and frightening. The Maine State Police are at the scene supporting and working cooperatively with the Attorney General’s Office, Maine’s Office of Chief Medical Examiner, and Federal officials to determine the facts of what occurred this morning.”
Community Impact and Uncertainty
The shooting has drawn significant attention to the presence of federal enforcement operations in the Biddeford community. Local residents and immigrant advocacy groups have expressed distress over the event, particularly regarding the timing and nature of the operation. The Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition stated that the victim was authorized to work in the United States and possessed a social security number, a claim that federal officials have yet to address or verify.
Crime scene markers remain in the roadway, and the investigation continues to piece together the sequence of events. Authorities have not yet clarified if the man killed was connected to any broader investigation or if the fatal use of force was consistent with agency protocols regarding vehicle-involved encounters.
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