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Fatal shooting of man by ICE agents in Biddeford sparks protests

Fatal shooting of man by ICE agents in Biddeford sparks protests

WGAN news partner WGME


A person is dead after they were shot by ICE agents in Biddeford while behind the wheel.

Authorities confirmed the shooting happened around 7:30 a.m. Monday at the intersection of Hill Street and Pool Street.

The Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition and the non-profit Presente! Maine said the person was a 26-year-old man from Colombia who was authorized to work in the U.S. and had been issued a social security number.

Community members said the man was a young father.

Witnesses reported seeing the man shot in the head, with one telling the Portland Press Herald that he was bleeding profusely and said “I tried to stop.”

The Maine Attorney General’s Office are part of the investigation into the shooting, saying in a statement Monday, “Initial statements indicate an Enforcement Removal Operations Officer was conducting an enforcement operation related to a final order of removal when the subject attempted to flee in a vehicle in the direction of the officer and was fatally shot.”

Sen. Angus King said U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told him the agent opened fire after the man tried to use his vehicle as a weapon against agents who were pursuing him for deportation.

“He was in a vehicle — pulled out in the vehicle, and the term the secretary used was “weaponized” the vehicle and was shot by an ICE agent,” King said.

Bystander video taken after the shooting showed agents trying to slow a white sedan that was going in circles in an intersection.

Images from the scene showed bullet holes in the vehicle’s windshield.

The agents involved in the shooting didn’t have body-worn cameras, King said, relaying information shared by Mullin. The FBI is leading the investigation, he said.

“The question is, what did he do with his vehicle,” King told reporters at the Portland Jetport before boarding a flight to Washington. “Were officers threatened? Were the threats rising to the level that justified deadly force?

“That’s what this investigation is all about and I certainly intend to stay after it to do everything I can to be sure the investigation is as transparent and thorough as possible.”

During the press conference, Sen. King said he was told that the man was the target of an investigation. Later in the day, his office issued a statement saying “the victim was not the target of the warrant.”

News of the shooting quickly drew reaction from state leaders and candidates running for office.

In a statement Monday, Gov. Janet Mills said:

“I have been briefed on the fatal shooting in Biddeford this morning involving Federal law enforcement. I know that situations like these are alarming and frightening. The Maine State Police are at the scene supporting and working cooperatively with the Attorney General’s Office, Maine’s Office of Chief Medical Examiner, and Federal officials to determine the facts of what occurred this morning.”

In a statement, Sen. Susan Collins said the shooting “requires a full and impartial investigation of what happened.”

Candidate for Senate and Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said in a statement on Monday:

“I have been briefed on the fatal shooting in Biddeford this morning involving Federal law enforcement. I know that situations like these are alarming and frightening. The Maine State Police are at the scene supporting and working cooperatively with the Attorney General’s Office, Maine’s Office of Chief Medical Examiner, and Federal officials to determine the facts of what occurred this morning.”

Senate candidate Troy Jackson condemned the shooting and called for ICE to be abolished:

“Our immigrant communities are under attack by ICE and today we lost a Mainer to that violence. For too long, ICE agents have been abducting our neighbors in brazen violation of the Constitution, and today, they have tragically escalated even further. This rogue agency must be abolished.”

Senate candidate Dr. Nirav Shah said:

“I’m following reports that ICE has fatally shot someone in Biddeford and am monitoring this tragic situation closely. I’m thinking of everyone affected as we await more information. The Maine Solidarity Fund has been providing direct assistance to Maine’s Black and Brown immigrant communities as they face arrest, detention, and deportation from ICE. If you can, please consider giving in support of their work today.”

Former Maine Governor Paul LePage, who’s running for Congress, cautioned against rushing to judgment, saying:

“Our men and women at all levels of law enforcement are often in situations where they have to make split-second decisions in rapidly changing situations. In any incident like this law enforcement, and the deceased, deserve a fair process that carefully examines all of the facts. Any loss of life is tragic but anyone who would seek to politicize this incident to try and perpetuate illegal immigration is wrong.”

An emergency rally took place at noon in Biddeford, with protesters and community members calling for ICE to leave Maine.

The Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition and Presente! Maine issued a statement calling for a thorough investigation:

“ICE must not be allowed to investigate itself or control the public narrative surrounding a death in which its personnel or operations were involved. We also call on our elected officials to invest in a fair, functional, and humane immigration system, not further expansion of immigration enforcement, and to strengthen protections that prevent local resources from being diverted toward federal immigration enforcement.”

Biddeford police say they’re not involved in the investigation beyond providing security at the scene.

Sen. Susan Collins said Monday evening that the investigation was being taken over by the Boston office of the DHS Inspector General in cooperation with the FBI.

The Maine Attorney General’s Office said more details will be released when appropriate.

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