The Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who shot and killed a Colombian man in Biddeford, Maine this week has a documented history of serious mental health issues dating to early childhood, according to multiple relatives who spoke with The Associated Press. David Brouillette, 37, an Army veteran, fatally shot 25-year-old Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero on Monday while Durán Guerrero was sitting in his car near his home, ICE officials confirmed.

Brouillette's family members told the AP that he was diagnosed with severe bipolar disorder and attention deficit disorder as a child, that he attempted suicide twice at age 12, and that he has a documented history of violent behavior toward women. The shooting is under investigation by multiple agencies including federal authorities.

What the Left Is Saying

Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, said during interviews this week that federal officials lack credibility in investigating the incident and that local authorities should play a role. "Locals need to be involved here," King said. "We need transparency." Maine Democrats have criticized GOP Sen. Susan Collins over her response to the shooting.

Civil liberties advocates argue the case exposes failures in DHS vetting procedures during President Trump's immigration crackdown. Since Trump launched his enforcement campaign after retaking office, at least 10 people have died in encounters with immigration agents. Immigration rights groups say that expanding ICE's ranks without adequate screening creates dangerous conditions for both officers and the public they encounter.

Ashley Brouillette, David's ex-wife who said she spoke with him Wednesday after seeing his picture circulate online, told the AP: "If you don't really, truly take care of yourself, there's no way you can protect other people. And with my dad, he never wanted to get help." Madison Brouillette, their 18-year-old daughter, also confirmed her father called her and said he shot and killed Durán Guerrero.

What the Right Is Saying

ICE spokesperson Lauren Bis said in a statement that "The ICE officer in question has nearly a decade of federal law enforcement experience with required training including use of force training." The agency declined to confirm or deny specific details about Brouillette, saying it would not address attempts to identify officers publicly.

DHS officials maintain the shooting occurred when "the vehicle attempted to flee the scene and, fearing for public safety, an officer discharged his weapon." The administration has defended its broad immigration enforcement as necessary to fulfill campaign promises and address public safety concerns along the southern border.

Brouillette told relatives he acted in self-defense. Ashley Brouillette said he told her: "He was asking if I could tell them that he was a good person." Madison Brouillette said her father maintained it was justified. "I don't think he sees himself as a killer," she told the AP. "All he said was that he did what he had to do. He said that he had to protect himself."

What the Numbers Show

At least 10 people have died in encounters with immigration agents since Trump launched his immigration crackdown after retaking office, according to an Associated Press count of such incidents.

Brouillette served nearly a decade in federal law enforcement, ICE officials said. He was in the Maine Army National Guard from November 2007 until January 2010, then joined the regular Army as a human intelligence collector, deploying to Afghanistan from May 2012 to February 2013 and leaving service as a sergeant in December 2015.

Court records obtained by AP show multiple protection order requests filed by Brouillette's second ex-wife on behalf of herself and their daughters, alleging physical and verbal abuse over several years. A judge granted one such protective order for his teenage daughter in 2021 after she alleged he tackled her and smashed spaghetti in her hair. No criminal record was found for Brouillette in Maine state databases.

Brouillette worked at the Maine Correctional Center and the state's Health and Human Services Department before serving as a police officer at a Veterans Affairs medical center near Augusta, public records show. He passed an exam to become a real estate sales agent in March 2025.

The Bottom Line

The shooting raises questions about ICE hiring practices during a period of rapid expansion under the Trump administration's immigration agenda. DHS has acknowledged conducting a significant hiring spree to support enforcement operations.

Brouillette remains in protective custody, according to his ex-wife. Federal investigators have not released body camera footage or detailed accounts of the encounter that killed Durán Guerrero. Maine officials and members of Congress from both parties are seeking more information about the incident and about ICE's internal review processes for officers with documented behavioral histories.

The case is likely to fuel ongoing debates about law enforcement accountability, mental health screening for federal agents, and the scope of immigration enforcement powers under the current administration.