ICE Agent Fatally Shoots 26-Year-Old in Biddeford, Maine; Investigation Underway
A 26-year-old Colombian man was killed by ICE agents in Biddeford, Maine, in a shooting that officials say was not the target of a warrant. State and federal authorities have opened investigations.
A 26-year-old Colombian man was shot dead by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during an enforcement operation in Biddeford, Maine, on Monday morning. State officials said the victim was attempting to flee in a vehicle when officers opened fire, and that he was not the target of the warrant, a clarification provided by Senator Angus King after speaking with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
The Office of the Maine Attorney General announced it is investigating the incident alongside local police, the Maine State Police, and federal authorities. The Enforcement Removal Operations officer involved has been placed on leave, as is standard protocol for police-involved shootings. The victim’s identity will be released once his family is notified.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing gunshots and seeing multiple marked and unmarked vehicles at the scene. One resident, Laura Peters, described hearing people shout “stop” on her home’s security camera and expressed fear for her children.
Senator Susan Collins called for a “full and impartial investigation,” noting that the FBI is also involved. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said the state will remain “tough” in ensuring a thorough inquiry.
The shooting follows a similar incident in Houston, Texas, where an ICE agent killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, also reportedly not the intended target of the operation. Both cases have heightened scrutiny of ICE enforcement actions.
The Department of Homeland Security has not yet issued a statement on the Biddeford shooting, and officials have urged the public to cooperate with investigators while maintaining peace and order.