The Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who fatally shot a Colombian man in Maine this week has a documented history of mental health struggles and violent behavior that raises serious questions about federal hiring practices, according to multiple family members who spoke on the record.
David Brouillette, 37, an Army veteran, shot and killed 25-year-old Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero on Monday near the victim’s home in Biddeford, Maine. The shooting occurred while Durán Guerrero was in his vehicle, according to official accounts.
Several of Brouillette’s close relatives have come forward with allegations that paint a disturbing picture of a man they say never should have been entrusted with a badge and firearm. These family members describe a pattern of threatening and violent conduct spanning years.
Court records reveal a history of mutual abuse and harassment allegations involving Brouillette and his two former wives, though no criminal convictions appear in his record. One relative provided a voicemail from last winter in which Brouillette allegedly told her that someone should slit her throat.
Ashley Brouillette, the officer’s ex-wife, expressed disbelief when her former husband told her last November that ICE had hired him. She questioned how someone with his background continues to obtain positions requiring firearms.
“He’s a danger to society. He’s a danger to people and to himself,” she told reporters, adding that she struggles to understand how he continues to pass background checks for such positions.
The incident has drawn attention to the Department of Homeland Security’s vetting procedures during its recent hiring expansion to support President Trump’s immigration enforcement initiatives. Since the administration’s immigration crackdown began following the president’s return to office, at least ten individuals have died in encounters with immigration agents.
Just days before the Maine shooting, another ICE officer shot and killed 52-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston.
The Department of Homeland Security has not officially released the name of the officer who killed Durán Guerrero. In a statement, the department claimed the vehicle attempted to flee and that an officer discharged his weapon out of concern for public safety.
Three relatives who have spoken with Brouillette since the shooting, including an ex-wife and his daughter, report that he claims to have acted in self-defense. His 18-year-old daughter, Madison Brouillette, confirmed that her father called her Wednesday and acknowledged shooting and killing Durán Guerrero. Ashley Brouillette similarly stated that her ex-husband acknowledged the killing during a Facebook audio call.
When questioned about Brouillette’s record and his involvement in Monday’s shooting, ICE spokesperson Lauren Bis declined to confirm or deny what she characterized as attempts to identify their law enforcement officers. She stated that the officer in question has nearly a decade of federal law enforcement experience with required training, including use of force training.
The White House has directed all inquiries regarding the shooting and the officer involved to ICE.
The facts of this case warrant serious examination. A federal law enforcement officer with an apparently troubled personal history has been involved in a fatal shooting. His family members have raised legitimate concerns about his fitness for duty. The American people deserve transparency about how their government screens those entrusted with the authority to use deadly force.
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