Witness recalls Colombian man's final words before fatal ICE shooting in Maine

BIDDEFORD, MAINE: A witness to the fatal shooting of a Colombian man by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Maine said he heard the victim's final words, "I tried to stop," moments after the man was pulled from his vehicle during an immigration enforcement operation.

The man fatally shot by ICE agents has been identified as Joan Sebastian Guerrero, a 26-year-old Colombian national.

The shooting took place on Monday, July 13, in Biddeford, Maine, during an ICE operation targeting Guerrero, who was subject to a final order of removal. Authorities said he was fatally shot after allegedly driving his vehicle toward a federal agent while attempting to flee.

The Maine Attorney General's Office, which is investigating the incident alongside the FBI and other agencies, said preliminary information indicates the driver was attempting to flee in the direction of an ICE officer. The agent involved has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.  

Witness recalls Colombian man's final words

Daniel Boucher, who lives nearby, said he initially mistook the gunshots for fireworks before looking out from his third-floor window. "Well, I heard the pop, pop, pop sound and I didn't know what it was because I thought it was fireworks," Boucher said.

Looking outside, he saw a small sedan stopped at an angle with an SUV positioned behind it. According to Boucher, the wounded driver briefly managed to move the vehicle before the SUV struck it again.

"He started coming down the street again driving and I don't know how, and then the SUV hit him again," Boucher said. "ICE agent got out, tried to open the door and had a difficult time but eventually opened it and pulled the guy out. His face was bloody, his head was bloody."

Boucher said he clearly heard the injured man tell officers, "I tried to stop." The witness also said he confronted the ICE agent after the shooting.

"The ICE agent that shot him walked right in front of me," Boucher said. "I was emotional and I just let him have it. He looked at me and said, 'He tried to run me over,' or something to that effect."

Another nearby resident, Laura Peters, told CNN she initially believed she had heard a car backfire while receiving a DoorDash delivery. She later saw multiple marked and unmarked law enforcement vehicles arrive at the scene.

"I didn't want to go any further because I don't want to be traumatized further by it, but it's my daughter's bus stop right there, so yeah that's very terrifying," Peters said.

She added that she later reviewed her home's security camera footage and heard people shouting "stop" before learning what had happened.

ICE shooting investigation continues in Maine

Guerrero was identified by a neighbor who said they had spoken with him several times and pointed to his Facebook profile, which featured photos of his wife and young daughter. His identity was also confirmed by an immigrant advocacy group that said it had been in contact with his family.

Sen Angus King of Maine said Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told him the ICE officer opened fire after Guerrero allegedly attempted to use his vehicle as a weapon during the enforcement operation.

Authorities have not publicly identified the agent involved.

The shooting marks the second fatal use of force by ICE agents within a week and at least the ninth fatal incident involving immigration officers since President Donald Trump's administration intensified immigration enforcement efforts.

The Maine Attorney General's Office said the investigation remains ongoing, and officials have not released additional details about the circumstances leading to the shooting.