BIDDEFORD — Relatives of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who fatally shot a Colombian national this week say he has long battled serious mental-health issues and a pattern of violent behavior that, they contend, should have disqualified him from carrying a badge and a firearm.
Family allegations and federal response
The officer, identified by relatives to The Associated Press as David Brouillette, is a 37-year-old Army veteran who relatives say has struggled with mental-health problems since childhood. Those relatives told the AP they believe Brouillette’s history—including alleged attacks on women close to him and a voicemail last winter in which he told one woman she should have her throat slit—show he should not have been armed while on duty.
“We will never confirm or deny attempts to dox our law enforcement officers,” ICE spokesperson Lauren Bis said in a statement. “The ICE officer in question has nearly a decade of federal law enforcement experience with required training including use of force training.”
The shooting occurred Monday in Biddeford when 25-year-old Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a Colombian national, was shot while seated in his car near his home. Durán Guerrero’s death is among at least 10 fatalities that have occurred in encounters with immigration agents since the federal administration resumed an intensified enforcement effort, according to national reporting.
What officials have said
Department of Homeland Security has not publicly identified the shooter. DHS said in an initial statement that the vehicle tried to flee the scene and that, "fearing for public safety, an officer discharged his weapon." The White House directed questions about the incident to ICE.
Relatives who said they have spoken with Brouillette since the shooting said he told them he acted in self-defense. Brouillette did not respond to messages seeking comment through text or email, according to reporting.
- Victim: Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, 25, Colombian national.
- Officer: Identified by relatives as David Brouillette, 37, Army veteran and ICE agent.
- Location: Near Durán Guerrero’s home in Biddeford, Maine.
- Investigation: The shooting is under federal review; ICE has released limited details.
Local impact and unanswered questions
For Biddeford residents, the case raises immediate practical and policy questions: how federal agents are vetted and trained, what oversight exists after reports of troubling behavior, and how families of people killed in enforcement encounters are informed. Community members and local leaders have gathered in recent days for vigils and discussions, seeking clarity about what happened and what broader reforms might be needed.
At this stage, several key facts remain unresolved publicly: the specific circumstances inside and around the vehicle at the moment the officer fired, any prior complaints or personnel actions related to the officer, and the status of the federal inquiry. Local and federal authorities have not released a full account of the incident.
| Detail | Known fact |
|---|---|
| Victim age | 25 |
| Officer age | 37 (per relatives) |
| Agency | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement |
| Location | Biddeford, Maine |
| Federal comment | ICE cites nearly a decade of experience and required training |
As the federal review continues, relatives’ accounts add a layer of human concern to the procedural questions: they describe a man they say struggled for years and whose behavior sometimes frightened those closest to him. Local residents have a stake in the outcome of the investigation and in any policy changes it prompts, especially around officer vetting and mental-health screening for law enforcement positions.
News Block will continue to follow the federal inquiry and report developments as officials provide more detail.
