Fresh questions are emerging about how US Immigration and Customs Enforcement hired and trained an officer accused of killing a young Colombian father in Maine. Reports about David Brouillette’s employment history, alleged misconduct and background checks have increased pressure on federal authorities to explain why he was allowed to serve as an armed officer.
Brouillette is accused of fatally shooting 25-year-old Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero during an ICE operation in Biddeford on July 13, 2026. Guerrero was inside a vehicle when at least four bullets struck through the windshield. He died at the scene.
The Department of Homeland Security said the vehicle attempted to flee and that the officer fired because he believed the situation presented a danger to public safety. Guerrero’s family has challenged that account. They say he was living legally in the United States, had a work permit and a Social Security number, and was not a threat.
Guerrero was also a father to a young daughter. His wife, Karolina Rojas Alvarez, said the couple had hoped to spend their lives together and grow old as a family. His death has left relatives demanding answers about the shooting and the decisions that led to it.
Brouillette’s former wife, Ashley Brouillette, previously told CNN that he contacted her after the incident and said he was the agent who shot Guerrero. She said he described the shooting as justified and claimed he had acted in self-defence.
A report published on November 11 detailed allegations about Brouillette’s past. The account described workplace problems, claims of domestic abuse and concerns about his mental health. It also included emails from 2021 in which he reportedly made hostile remarks about his sister’s Colombian partner, who was legally living in the United States.
In one message, Brouillette reportedly told his sister that her partner should return to his country. He also questioned the man’s understanding of American freedom and attacked his family background. In another message, he told his sister she was dead to him.
Brouillette’s mother reportedly described him as dangerous and urged people to take allegations against him seriously. His former wives accused him of physical abuse in court filings, but he disputed those claims. Requests for protection from abuse orders were either denied or later dismissed. The cases did not lead to criminal convictions.
His mother also said Brouillette had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had been hospitalised several times. These statements have added to questions about what information was available to officials during the hiring process.
Brouillette joined ICE in December 2025 during a major recruitment drive. The report said he was allowed to start work before the agency had completed a full review of his background. His background report was still waiting to be reviewed when the fatal shooting occurred.
He also reportedly completed a shorter online training programme instead of the full ICE course. The agency cited his previous law enforcement experience as the reason for the shorter programme. The issue has raised concerns about whether officers should be deployed before completing standard training on the use of force and other law enforcement procedures.
DHS rejected claims that ICE had lowered its recruitment standards. A spokesperson said all incoming officers were assessed under federal employment rules and that the agency maintained strict vetting requirements. The department also said officers received training in de-escalation and were instructed to use only the force needed to handle dangerous situations.
When asked about Brouillette’s personal training and conduct, DHS said it did not comment on personnel who were no longer employed by the agency.
His previous work history included service in the Maine National Guard and the US Army. He served in the National Guard from 2007 to 2010 and later worked as a human intelligence collector in the Army from 2010 to 2015. He completed a nine-month deployment to Afghanistan and left the military with the rank of sergeant.
After leaving the Army, Brouillette worked as a corrections officer, a state human services enforcement agent and a federal police officer at the Togus Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He also served briefly as a volunteer firefighter. A former fire chief reportedly described him as a difficult person to manage after an incident involving an alleged threat. Brouillette later sued a college over an injury he said affected his memory and cognitive abilities. The case was settled.
State records show that Brouillette also held a Maine real estate licence for a period and was dismissed from a pest control job over reported behavioural problems. Maine criminal court records show no criminal convictions beyond a traffic violation from about a decade ago.
The Maine attorney general’s office and the DHS inspector general are investigating Guerrero’s death. His family’s lawyer has called for the release of records related to Brouillette’s hiring, background checks, training and deployment.
Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree has also demanded answers and called for an independent investigation. She argued that an officer should not be armed and sent into communities before the agency has completed the required background checks.
The investigations now face two central questions: whether the shooting was justified and whether ICE followed proper procedures before placing Brouillette on duty. Guerrero’s family says it deserves a full account of what happened and wants those responsible to be held accountable.
