ICE Officer Kills Colombian Man in Maine; Multiple Agencies Investigate

Federal Investigation Underway After ICE Officer Fatally Shoots Motorist in Maine

A federal immigration officer fatally shot a 26-year-old Colombian man in Biddeford, Maine, on Monday, prompting multiple investigations into the circumstances surrounding the encounter. The incident occurred as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were conducting surveillance at an address in the coastal city, located approximately 15 miles southwest of Portland.

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, agents were monitoring the location for a person with a final order of removal. When ICE officers attempted to stop a vehicle leaving the address, the department stated that the vehicle tried to flee. An officer discharged his weapon, citing concerns for public safety.

Conflicting Accounts of the Encounter

The events leading up to the fatal shooting remain the subject of intense scrutiny as officials work to reconcile varying accounts. U.S. Sen. Angus King reported that Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin informed him the officer opened fire after the man allegedly attempted to use his vehicle as a weapon against agents. Conversely, the Maine Attorney General’s office, which is conducting its own investigation, noted that initial statements suggest the motorist was attempting to flee in the direction of the agent.

Witnesses on the scene provided differing perspectives on the moments before the gunfire. One resident, Em Akerley, stated she heard no commands or shouting before a succession of six or seven gunshots rang out. Another witness, Daniel Boucher, reported hearing the driver say, “I tried to stop,” after the vehicle had been forced to the curb. Boucher added that the agent who fired the shots later told him, “He tried to run me over.”

Security camera footage obtained by the Associated Press shows a white vehicle moving in slow circles at an intersection before a law enforcement SUV blocks its path. The video then depicts two officers opening the driver’s door and removing a limp body; however, the precise timing of the gunfire is not clear from the recording. Officials have confirmed that the agents involved in the incident were not equipped with body cameras.

For more on this story, see ICE Agent Kills Colombian Man Not Targeted by Warrant in Maine Shooting.

Victim Identification and Community Impact

Immigrant rights groups, including the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition and Presente!, have identified the deceased as a 26-year-old native of Colombia. Advocates stated that the man was authorized to work in the United States. The Colombian Embassy has confirmed it is in contact with U.S. authorities to formally verify the individual’s identity and nationality.

Local residents and the victim’s family have expressed deep distress over the shooting. Neighbors described the man as a devoted father who lived nearby with his wife and young daughter. Mary Hayes, a local resident, described witnessing the victim’s wife mourning at the scene. Sadie Dilboy, who owns a local laundromat, remembered the man as a regular patron who was known for being kind and helpful.

Following the shooting, several hundred protesters gathered in Biddeford to demonstrate against ICE, with some calling for the agency to be abolished.

Ongoing Federal and State Investigations

Multiple entities are currently investigating the shooting to determine whether the use of deadly force was justified. Sen. Susan Collins stated that Secretary Mullin confirmed the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General is investigating the incident in cooperation with the FBI. Additionally, the Maine Attorney General’s office is reviewing the case, and the officer involved in the shooting has been placed on leave.

Sen. King emphasized that the primary focus of these investigations is to establish the facts. “Did this young man actually try to run over an ICE agent or was he in danger of running over other people in the street?” King asked during an interview with CNN. “Was there a reasonable expectation of bodily harm or deadly force to justify this shooting?”

This incident marks the second time in a week that ICE agents have used deadly force and represents at least the ninth such occurrence since the start of the current administration’s immigration enforcement efforts. Sen. King also noted that, according to Secretary Mullin, the arrest warrant the officers were serving was not for the man who was shot, clarifying that earlier reports identifying him as the specific target of the enforcement action were incorrect.

This follows our earlier report, ICE Agents Fatally Shoot 26-Year-Old Man During Biddeford, Maine Incident.

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