On the morning of July 13, 2026, a tragic event unfolded in Biddeford, Maine, when a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer fatally shot Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a 25-year-old Colombian national. The incident was recorded by a home security camera at 7:17 a.m. ET, capturing the sound of five gunshots.
Guerrero, who was in a white sedan, was struck while driving. A photograph of the car showed multiple bullet holes in the windshield. Additional surveillance footage showed the sedan slowing down as ICE agents approached from both sides. The car then circled for about a minute before being pinned by an agent in a white SUV. Guerrero, wounded, was pulled from the vehicle.
Eyewitness Daniel Boucher described the scene as unforgettable, noting the demeanor of the ICE officers and the shock of the officer who fired the shots. Despite first responders’ efforts, Guerrero, a delivery driver and father, died at the scene.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that ICE agents were conducting targeted surveillance in the area on an unrelated case. Guerrero was not their intended target. Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine mentioned hearing that Guerrero may have been mistakenly shot, although DHS has not confirmed this claim.
DHS stated Guerrero attempted to flee in his car, prompting an ICE officer to discharge his weapon due to public safety concerns. A similar incident occurred on July 7, when another ICE officer fatally shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican man, in Houston, Texas. In both cases, the men were not targets of the ICE operations.
As a result of these incidents, federal officials have decided to suspend most vehicle stops during ICE operations across the country. This suspension affects ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations but not Homeland Security Investigations. White House border czar Tom Homan described the suspension as a necessary short-term measure to reevaluate procedures. Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine emphasized the importance of resolving these issues before resuming standard operations, as investigations into the incidents continue.
Nicole Sganga contributed to this report.