Joan Sebastian Guerrero: What we know about man killed by ICE in Biddeford, Maine
BIDDEFORD, Maine —
A man was shot and killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Biddeford on Monday morning.
On Monday evening, a family friend told Maine’s Total Coverage Joan Sebastian Guerrero was killed in the shooting Monday morning. She said Guerrero leaves behind a wife, 3-year-old child, and sister.
The Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition previously said the victim, later identified as Guerrero, was a 26-year-old man from Colombia. Mufalo Chitam, the group’s executive director, told CNN that the man was on his way to work. The group said he was authorized to work in the US and was issued a social security number.
The Colombian Embassy shared a statement on Monday afternoon.
“The Embassy of Colombia in the United States, through its Consular Section, is in contact with the relevant U.S. authorities and with representatives of community organisations [sic] assisting in the case. Consular officials are working to formally confirm the individual’s identity and nationality and to determine the appropriate procedures in accordance with applicable legal and consular protocols.”
As of Tuesday morning, investigators had not released his identity. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said ICE was “conducting targeted surveillance on the last known address of an illegal alien” for what is described as a final order of removal. They said “an illegal alien” left the home in a vehicle and ICE officers tried to stop the vehicle as the driver kept going. They said the officer feared for public safety when he shot at the vehicle, hitting and killing the driver.
Sen. Angus King’s office told Maine’s Total Coverage on Monday afternoon that the senator had spoken with DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and was told that Guerrero was not the target of their warrant on Monday. It was not clear if he was connected to a broader investigation. ICE did not clarify if the man who died Monday morning was the target of their operation.