- ICE confirmed it was conducting 'targeted surveillance' on the last known address of an illegal alien at the time of the shooting.
- ICE stated the man was trying to flee and an officer discharged a weapon fearing for public safety.
- The shooting occurred at the intersection of Pool and Hill Streets in Biddeford.
- The ICE officer shot at the vehicle, claiming the driver fled and the officer feared for public safety, killing the driver.
- The victim was a 26-year-old Colombian national authorized to work in the U.S. with a Social Security number.
- Maine Senator Angus King was told the man was not the intended target of the ICE operation.
- DHS OIG was notified and the Boston office of the DHS Inspector General is leading the investigation with the FBI.
- The Colombian Embassy is working to confirm the victim's identity and nationality.
- The Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition and Presente called the death "devastating, enraging, and unacceptable" and demanded a full and transparent account.
- This incident marks the ninth death from an encounter with federal immigration officials under the Trump administration, and the second in a week; ICE arrested over 10,000 in a five-day period.
- The vehicle involved was registered to Jhonathan Ramires of Biddeford, and a witness saw the victim fixing his brakes earlier.
- The ICE spokesperson identified the man only as an "illegal alien" who was trying to "flee the scene."
ICE agents shot and killed a 26-year-old Colombian man identified as Joan Sebastian Guerrero during a targeted surveillance operation in Biddeford on July 13. The incident occurred around 7 a.m. when Guerrero, who was authorized to work in the U.S., attempted to flee in a vehicle after ICE attempted a stop.
According to ICE, the officer feared for public safety and discharged his weapon, fatally striking Guerrero. Senator Angus King reported that the victim was not the intended target of the operation, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding the shooting. “Different facts may come out, but apparently there are no cameras involved,” King stated, indicating a lack of video evidence.569
The Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition expressed outrage, stating, “This is devastating, enraging, and unacceptable.” They emphasized Guerrero's status as a community member who leaves behind a wife and child. The incident marks at least the ninth death involving federal immigration officials since the start of the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration.
The DHS Inspector General and the FBI are investigating the shooting, with the Maine Attorney General's Office confirming they are also looking into the use of deadly force. The Colombian Embassy is in contact with U.S. authorities to confirm Guerrero's identity and nationality.12
The shooting occurred at the intersection of Pool and Hill Streets, and the vehicle was registered to a local resident. The community is mourning the loss and demanding transparency in the investigation.4
“The man killed was a 26-year-old Colombian national authorized to work in the U.S. with a Social Security number, marking at least the ninth death from an encounter with federal immigration officials under the Trump administration. Senator Angus King said he was told the man was not the intended target of the ICE operation.”
WGME
WMTW
