ICE shooting in Maine sparks outrage after lawmakers say wrong man was killed

WASHINGTON, DC: A fatal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shooting in Maine has escalated into a major political controversy after state lawmakers said the Colombian man killed by federal agents was not the person they were trying to arrest.

The claim directly contradicts initial accounts surrounding the operation and has triggered demands for an independent investigation, while renewed questions have emerged over the absence of body-camera footage and the circumstances that led an officer to open fire. 

The incident occurred Monday morning in Biddeford, where ICE agents conducting surveillance shot and killed 26-year-old Colombian national Joan Sebastian Guerrero. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Guerrero attempted to flee in his vehicle, prompting an officer to fire out of concern for public safety. However, Maine officials now say the case may involve mistaken identity.

Lawmakers challenge DHS account

Independent Sen Angus King said Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin initially told him Guerrero was the subject of the removal warrant before later correcting himself.

"About three hours later, he called me back and said the person that was killed was not the person they were seeking," King said during a CNN interview.

Democratic Rep Chellie Pingree echoed those concerns, saying she had heard "on good authority" that ICE may have shot the wrong individual, although DHS has not officially confirmed that account.

King also questioned whether deadly force was justified, saying investigators had not yet presented evidence showing officers faced an imminent threat. He called for a "transparent and thorough" investigation into exactly what unfolded during the operation.

Missing body cameras raise concerns

The controversy has been compounded by the revelation that the ICE agents involved were not wearing body cameras.

According to King, investigators will instead rely on surveillance footage, witness testimony and physical evidence. CBS News obtained security video showing Guerrero's white Kia slowly circling before stopping, after which multiple individuals approached the vehicle and pulled the driver from the car.

Another recording published by the Portland Press Herald appears to show an individual grabbing the driver's side door handle while the vehicle remained in motion before the footage cuts off.

The Maine Attorney General's Office said preliminary witness statements indicate Guerrero attempted to drive toward an ICE officer before shots were fired. The officer involved has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Meanwhile, Republican Sen Susan Collins said DHS' Office of Inspector General will lead the federal review with assistance from the FBI.

Embassy seeks answers from DHS 

The Colombian Embassy confirmed it has formally requested information and clarification from DHS while providing consular assistance to Guerrero's family.

Immigrant advocacy organizations identified Guerrero as a 26-year-old husband and father who had authorization to work in the United States and possessed a Social Security number. Neighbors described him as a young father raising a daughter who is approximately two years old.

Project Relief Maine and the Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition called for accountability, arguing the community deserves a full explanation of how the shooting unfolded.

Second fatal ICE shooting in week

The Maine shooting came less than a week after another fatal ICE encounter in Houston, where Mexican national Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was killed during an immigration operation.

That case also involved officers without body cameras, prompting similar questions over the use of force. Attorneys representing witnesses have disputed DHS' version of events, while the FBI is investigating.

With two fatal ICE shootings under federal review within days of each other, the Biddeford case is likely to intensify scrutiny of immigration enforcement tactics, operational transparency and the circumstances under which agents use deadly force.