BIDDEFORD, Maine — Relatives of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who fatally shot 25-year-old Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero on July 13 say the agent, identified by family members as David Brouillette, has long struggled with serious mental-health issues and a history of violent behavior.
Family accounts clash with agency statement
The accounts from Brouillette’s relatives, provided to The Associated Press and shared with local outlets, portray a man who, they say, “had a history of terrifying and violent behavior,” including alleged attacks on women known to him. One relative shared a voicemail reportedly left by Brouillette last winter in which he told a woman he thought someone should slit her throat.
“We will never confirm or deny attempts to dox our law enforcement officers,” ICE spokesperson Lauren Bis said in a statement, adding that “The ICE officer in question has nearly a decade of federal law enforcement experience with required training including use of force training.”
Federal officials have not publicly released the officer’s name. DHS said in an initial release that the vehicle “attempted to flee the scene and, fearing for public safety, an officer discharged his weapon.” The agency has not released additional investigative details.
Death, protest and scrutiny
Durán Guerrero, a Colombian national and father, died after several rounds struck his car while he was near his home in Biddeford. Family members have said he was in the country legally, with a work permit and Social Security number. Video and reporting indicate multiple shots penetrated the windshield; Durán Guerrero was pronounced dead at the scene.
The shooting prompted public outcry and protests in Augusta outside the Edmund Muskie Federal Building, where demonstrators gathered to challenge ICE tactics and demand transparency about the incident.
- Victim: Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, 25
- Date: July 13, 2026 (shooting)
- Location: Near Durán Guerrero’s home in Biddeford
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Agency statement | Vehicle attempted to flee; officer fired fearing for public safety |
| Officer | Not officially named by DHS; relatives identify him as David Brouillette |
Questions about vetting and broader pattern
Relatives’ allegations add to wider concerns about vetting at the Department of Homeland Security as ICE expanded hiring to carry out immigration enforcement under the current administration. The AP reported that at least 10 people have died in encounters with immigration agents since President Donald Trump resumed office, a figure family members and advocates cite when pressing for independent investigation and policy changes.
Relatives who spoke to reporters and investigators said Brouillette told them he acted in self-defense when reached after the shooting. The officer did not respond to texts and email requests for comment, according to the AP. ICE reiterated that it does not confirm officers’ identities and emphasized that the officer had federal law enforcement training.
Local advocates and Durán Guerrero’s family are calling for a full, transparent probe into the use of deadly force and into whether the agency’s hiring and oversight practices allowed someone with a troubling personal history to carry a badge and firearm on the streets of Maine. Meanwhile, the family has started a GoFundMe to help with expenses as they seek answers.
As the investigation proceeds, residents in Biddeford and elsewhere in Maine are watching whether federal authorities will release more details about the officers’ actions, training records and prior conduct — information that could affect both community trust and policy discussions about how immigration enforcement is carried out in the state.
