DHS breaks hours of silence on deadly ICE shooting in Maine, saying officer was ‘fearing for public safety’
DHS breaks hours of silence on deadly – “`html
DHS Breaks Hours of Silence on Maine ICE Shooting
DHS breaks hours of silence to address the fatal shooting of a Colombian national by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Maine. The Department of Homeland Security released a statement Monday evening confirming that the federal agent discharged his weapon while fearing for public safety during the confrontation in Biddeford. The incident, which occurred on Monday morning, has sparked renewed debate over federal immigration enforcement practices across the country.
Neighbors identified the deceased as Joan Sebastian Guerrero, a 26-year-old Colombian man who was attempting to leave the scene when the officer opened fire. The official DHS communication arrived approximately twelve hours after the shooting, providing additional context about the circumstances that led to Guerrero’s death. This tragedy marks the second fatal shooting involving federal immigration agents within seven days in the United States.
Conflicting Reports on Warrant Details
Discrepancies have emerged regarding whether Guerrero was the intended subject of the warrant. Senator Angus King’s office stated that the man was not the target of the legal document, following a conversation with DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. However, the senator had previously indicated, based on an earlier discussion with Mullin, that Guerrero was indeed the person named in the warrant.
The Maine Attorney General’s Office initially declined to publicly name the victim until proper identification was confirmed and relatives were notified. CNN has learned that the deceased was a Colombian national who was heading to his job at the time of the shooting. The Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition reported that the young man possessed work authorization and held a social security number, though federal authorities have yet to verify these details.
Community Mourns a Hardworking Father
Nelson Elias, a neighbor who has known Guerrero since 2024, was among the first to discover the body. He described hearing loud noises and what sounded like officers directing someone to stop a vehicle. After several gunshots rang out, Elias went outside to find Guerrero lying on the pavement.
“Around 7 a.m. I heard screams, they woke me up. I heard them (officers) telling him to park the car. It was really loud. Then all of a sudden they shot like 6 times, and it was just something hard to hear,” Elias recalled.
The neighbor noted that Guerrero’s wife and young daughter were present at the scene. Guerrero worked as a delivery driver and lived with his partner and their three-year-old child. Elias described him as a quiet, hardworking individual who dedicated himself to supporting his family.
“He was a good person. He was quiet and reserved. He worked hard to provide for his wife and a 3-year-old daughter,” Elias said. “We just ask for justice for his family. It was hard to see his wife sitting there just crying and screaming.”
Flowers and candles have appeared on the sidewalk near where the shooting took place. One memorial sign declares that immigrants strengthen Biddeford. Mayor Liam LaFountain expressed grief for those affected by the tragedy.
“I am mourning for the individuals impacted, for the family that lost a father, lost a partner, and a community member as well,” the mayor told CNN affiliate WGME.
Mary Hayes, a nearby resident, witnessed the aftermath. She described seeing a woman collapse beside her husband’s body and a young girl weeping with her pink backpack. Hayes held a sign reading “No ICE Stop ICE” as she observed the scene.
The incident has renewed calls for accountability in Minneapolis, where two ICE agents were involved in January shootings that resulted in the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. The two Maine and Texas incidents, separated by nearly two thousand miles, have sparked conversations about federal immigration enforcement practices nationwide.
CNN’s Mark Morales, Elise Hammond, and Sarah Boxer contributed to this report.
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