What we know about the 26-year-old father from Colombia who was fatally shot by an ICE officer in Maine

What We Know About the 26-Year-Old Colombian Father Shot by ICE in Maine

What we know about the 26 year – What we know about the 26-year-old father from Colombia who died after being shot by an ICE officer continues to emerge as the community mourns. Joan Sebastian Durán Guerrero’s partner fell to her knees while his three-year-old daughter cried following the Monday shooting in Biddeford. Durán Guerrero, a twenty-six-year-old food delivery worker originally from Colombia, died in the historic Atlantic coastal city where locals knew him as a hardworking and compassionate man.

What We Know About the Community Response

What we know about the 26-year-old’s impact on Biddeford is reflected in signs at the memorial site declaring, “Immigrants make Biddeford great.” This tragedy marks the second death caused by a federal officer in just seven days, leading Immigration and Customs Enforcement to announce a significant policy change. According to a source familiar with internal guidance, the agency has instructed officers to substantially pause vehicle stops until further directions are issued.

The Department of Homeland Security released its first official statement roughly twelve hours after the incident. Officials explained that an ICE officer fired his weapon “fearing for public safety” while Durán Guerrero, sitting inside a vehicle, “attempted to flee the scene.” Federal authorities emphasized that Durán Guerrero was not the primary target of the enforcement operation that day.

What We Know About Neighbors’ Memories

While federal officials characterized Durán Guerrero as a potential public safety concern, neighbors in Biddeford remembered him differently. The young father, who lived with his partner and child, was described by those around him as quiet and reserved. Nelson Elias, a local resident, voiced the community’s feelings: “We just ask for justice for his family. It was hard to see his wife sitting there just crying and screaming.”

Mary Hayes, who resides near the intersection where the shooting occurred, shared her emotional reaction with The Associated Press. “I watched a little girl crying with a little pink backpack on because she’s never going to see her father again,” she said.

Karolina Rojas, Durán Guerrero’s partner and mother of their child, took to social media on Monday to honor her beloved. In a heartfelt tribute written in Spanish, she expressed that no words could capture her devastation, noting she had numerous unanswered questions and that her “soul aches.” On one photograph showing the couple together, Rojas wrote, “Give me great strength, my love — I beg you. Stay with me every step of the way; Don’t leave us alone, I beg you.”

What We Know About the Shooting Circumstances

According to Mufalo Chitam, who serves as director of the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition, Durán Guerrero possessed authorization to work in the United States and had successfully obtained a Social Security number. Federal officials have yet to independently verify these details.

A neighbor reported that Durán Guerrero departed his residence around seven in the morning on Monday, heading toward his workplace. Video surveillance footage acquired by The Associated Press appears to capture the vehicle containing him as it is being stopped. In the recording, agents can be observed extracting the driver from the car and positioning his body on the ground.

Notably, the agents involved in the incident were not wearing body cameras, leaving no direct video evidence of the events as they unfolded. Although the Department of Homeland Security committed to expanding its body camera program earlier this year, the gradual implementation has meant that not all agents—particularly those in Maine—have received the equipment.

What We Know About the Family’s Grief

Durán Guerrero hailed from the city of Bucaramanga, located in north central Colombia. His father, Omar Durán, told Colombian radio station Blu Radio that his son had emigrated to the United States with hopes of providing a better future for his family. Omar Durán also mentioned that his son had previously worked at a veterinary clinic. “He was a good person … raised with values,” his father reflected.

The Colombian government, acting through its embassy in Washington, has formally requested a “thorough and immediate” investigation and sought clarification from the Department of Homeland Security regarding the circumstances surrounding his death. Meanwhile, Durán Guerrero’s relatives in Colombia have initiated proceedings to bring his body back home.

Carlos, a friend and fellow resident in Durán Guerrero’s building, described him as “an excellent person, a good father, good husband.” Isabel Paredes, another neighbor, added that Durán Guerrero was always polite and helpful to those around him. What we know about the 26-year-old Colombian father continues to grow as more details emerge about his life and the tragic circumstances of his death.