Full Breakdown
ICE Officer’s Fatal Shooting of a Colombian Man in Biddeford, Maine
7/17/2026, 5:05:59 AM
The Incident
On Monday, July 13, 2026, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer David Michael Brouillette, 37, shot and killed Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a 25-year-old Colombian national, while the man was in his car near his home on Pool Street in Biddeford, Maine. DHS said the vehicle “attempted to flee the scene and, fearing for public safety, an officer discharged his weapon.” The officer’s name was not released by DHS at the time.
Background & Context
The shooting occurred amid a broader surge in ICE hiring to support President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda after his 2024 reelection. Since that crackdown, at least 10 people have died in encounters with immigration agents, according to the Associated Press. Brouillette’s employment with ICE began in late 2025 after a series of short-term public-safety jobs and a career as a U.S. Army veteran.
Key Figures & Groups
- David Michael Brouillette – former Maine Army National Guard member (2007-2010), U.S. Army sergeant (2010-2015), veteran with deployments to Afghanistan, and former police officer at a Department of Veterans Affairs medical center.
- Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero – Colombian national residing in Biddeford with his partner and young daughter.
- ICE – federal immigration enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
- Lauren Bis – ICE spokesperson.
- Ashley Brouillette – ex-wife of the officer, who provided multiple statements to the press.
- Madison Brouillette – daughter of the officer, who relayed his own account.
Official Statements & Responses
DHS described the incident as a response to a fleeing vehicle that posed a public-safety threat. ICE spokesperson Lauren Bis said, “We will never confirm or deny attempts to dox our law enforcement officers,” and added, “The ICE officer in question has nearly a decade of federal law enforcement experience with required training including use of force training.” The White House referred all inquiries to ICE. Senator Angus King’s office reported that DHS officials told the senator the man shot was not the intended target of the warrant.
Criticism & Opposition
Family members and former partners of Brouillette allege a long history of severe mental-health issues and violent behavior. An unnamed relative described him as “extremely mentally ill,” noting diagnoses of bipolar disorder and attention-deficit disorder, two suicide attempts at age 12, and multiple hospitalizations. Court filings reveal hundreds of family-court records documenting physical and verbal abuse, stalking, and temporary-protection orders filed by his second ex-wife. Critics argue that the officer’s background raises questions about DHS’s vetting process during its hiring surge.
Data & Statistics
- 10 deaths have occurred in ICE encounters since the 2024-25 immigration crackdown.
- Brouillette is the second Maine resident serving as a federal immigration officer to be identified as having shot a person during an enforcement operation; the first was CBP agent Charles Exum in Chicago.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
DHS has not publicly released Brouillette’s name, yet the independent “ICE List” database identified him based on two anonymous tips. Video footage circulating online shows the vehicle stationary at the moment of the shooting, contradicting DHS’s claim that the driver was attempting to run over the officer. ICE has declined to confirm or deny the officer’s identity, maintaining a policy of non-disclosure.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We will never confirm or deny attempts to dox our law enforcement officers,” — Lauren Bis, ICE spokesperson
- “The ICE officer in question has nearly a decade of federal law enforcement experience with required training including use of force training.” — Lauren Bis, ICE spokesperson
- “He was asking me to lie for him and to cover for his character,” — Ashley Brouillette, ex-wife
- “I told him that I was not going to lie for him. And then he tried to say that it was a justified shooting because the guy tried to hit him with his car.” — Ashley Brouillette
- “He said it was a justified shooting. The guy was trying to run him over with a car.” — Ashley Brouillette
- “I think he thinks that he genuinely did the right thing,” — Madison Brouillette, daughter
What’s Next
Federal officials have not announced any imminent investigation outcomes or disciplinary actions. ICE has indicated that internal reviews will follow standard protocol, but no public timetable has been provided.
