Joan Sebastian Guerrero: What we know about man killed by ICE in Biddeford, Maine
Ice shot and killed *** man in Bitterford this morning. Tonight we have live team coverage. It shatters the illusion that Maine is safe. Here at the scene where that man died, we’re speaking with witnesses and trying to get answers from investigators to the protests and rally. with the community calling for answers and change, and what we’re learning at the federal level, our legislative delegation helping us get answers. I is still operating in our state. This story again putting Maine in the national spotlight, and we have it all covered for you. You’re watching Channel 8. Maine’s total coverage starts with breaking news. *** man in Biddeford shot and killed by ICE agents this morning was not the target of the investigation. Thanks for joining us for Maine’s total coverage at 6. I’m Kathleen Jordan and I’m Megan Torgeson. Your total forecast with Roger in just *** moment, but this has been *** rapidly evolving story all day long. John Chrysos leading our team coverage of reporters and coverage live in Bitterford, and John, *** vigil is expected to begin in about an hour from now. Megan, that vigil now set for 7 o’clock here tonight at Mechanics Park. The city setting up right now. They’re adding some large concrete barriers around the perimeter of the park, the property here, trying to make sure that everybody here is safe tonight. Tension, high safety, top of mind. We have seen the anti-I protests here at the park really throughout the day. Mainers is now demanding answers, really trying to understand how what’s being described as an. operation ended with *** man dead just *** few blocks away from here. We do have that total team coverage on this breaking story here tonight. Nor Hogan talking with the demonstrators here at the park. Bonnie Bishop has *** look at how Maine’s lawmakers are reacting. But first we do want to get right out to Ronnie Perillo also here in Biddeford tonight. And Ronnie, I know you’ve been talking with witnesses, and they have *** lot to say about what they saw and heard. What are they telling you? John, well people just want answers. I was standing here just *** few moments ago when two neighbors who said that they lived just down the block from where that shooting occurred this morning. They said they’re wondering, they just want to know what happened. They want answers tonight, and that’s why the FBI and the Maine Attorney General’s office, they’re both now involved in this investigation. But we want to get you the details and wrap what happened shortly after 8 o’clock this morning at the corner of Pool and Hill Streets here in the city of Biddeford. Neighbors telling us they heard at least 4 gunshots ring out. The AG’s office says an ICE agent was conducting *** final order of removal on *** man in the country. Illegally when *** man who was driving *** white Kia drove towards the officer and tried to flee. That’s when officials say the officer fired at the Kia and killed the driver. Now we do know that that Kia is registered to *** Biddeford resident. His name is Jonathan Ramirez. It’s not clear right now if Ramirez was the driver of the Kia at the time of the shooting. We did speak with neighbors today though, shaken up by what happened just feet from the place that they call home. I see *** small white car, um, being corralled by two men, um, trying to stop it from losing control around the intersection. And, um, all of *** sudden all these, um, plain clothes, um, vested men started running down the street, abandoning their cars, um, kind of everywhere with regular people behind them. And *** local immigrant rights group telling us that the man killed was *** 26-year-old from Colombia. We have no names as of right now. That is all we know. And of course law enforcement has not confirmed the identification of the victim yet. The Maine Attorney General’s office, as I said, is involved in this investigation. They’re being assisted by Maine State Police, Biddeford Police, and Saco Police, of course we’ll continue to keep you updated as this investigation continues to rapidly unfold, John. Rapid indeed, Ronnie, thank you. And at least 2 members of Maine’s congressional delegation now saying that those body worn cameras, the ones that officers wear, are needed in situations like this. But Senator Angus King tells us in this case body cameras were not used during today’s shooting. Bonnie Bishop joining us now live from the ICE detention facility over in Scarborough with more on what they’re saying tonight and Bonnie, it seems like without the officers wearing those cameras, it seems increasingly unlikely that we’ll see the moments, at least from the officer’s perspective on how this all played out. And John, that’s exactly what Senator King told us earlier today when he was speaking at *** press conference. He also says he’s just overall concerned at the fact that there weren’t cameras involved, and he says they should have been there from the start. told that body cameras would be widely distributed. The secretary told me that. They’re on order that they have been distributed widely across the country, but not everywhere and apparently not in Biddeford, Maine. The shooting comes after Congress passed legislation funding DHS, ICE, and border protection through the end of President Trump’s term just over *** month ago. The $70 billion package includes funding for body worn cameras. Congressman Jared Golden voted no on this, as well as Congresswoman Shelley Pingree. Senator King voted no, and Senator Susan Collins voted yes. Collins weighing in today, calling for *** full and impartial investigation. We have not heard back from Representative Golden. Congresswoman Pingree in Biddeford today. We had the catch of the day that went on in Maine, and people thought when they cleared out and we rounded up the 200 people who had been removed from our state. That it was over, but we know through our office because we have *** steady stream of people coming into our office with concerns that ICE is still operating in our state at *** fairly high level. And you just heard Pingree mention Operation Catch of the Day, which happened earlier in the year here in Maine. I asked Senator King if something like that is expected to happen again. He said he’d ask and let us know. Back to you, John. All right, Bonnie, while we wait to hear back from that, we are just getting *** statement from the union representing state workers, that statement saying that this tragedy is because of ISIS continued reign of terror and intimidation. The quote there from that statement we mentioned that vigil happening here tonight in Mechanics Park. At 7, but also that demonstration, the anti-IS protests that have been happening here in the city since word of that shooting broke this morning. Nora Hogan has been talking with the demonstrators, and Nora. The sights and sounds of that protest really growing here throughout the day. I Yes, and John, right now this crowd is actually *** bit small compared to what we saw earlier. Starting at 11 o’clock, people started trickling in, dozens filling about *** quarter of this park, lining the streets. They ended up marching up Main Street where they flooded the streets in front of Senator Susan Collins’ office to protest there before they headed back here to Mechanics Park, and police have been stationed around the city throughout the day. They’ve been directing traffic. As needed, they set up jersey barriers along the road. Public works did. So far everything has been peaceful. That’s what we’ve seen with our eyes and that’s also what we are hearing from Biddeford’s police chief today. Protesters are speaking up for their immigrant friends and neighbors. We know this is *** city built by immigrants and it’s *** crucial part of the fabric here. These protesters are calling for accountability from elected officials in the wake of this killing. And I want our state to really take measures to ensure that everybody is safe, no matter who they are in this state and until that happens, we can’t say that this place is safe for all nations. There was *** small handful of counter protesters who were stationed across the street for *** brief time earlier. They left before we were able to speak with them. We do expect more people to start trickling back into Mechanics Park because there is *** vigil set for 7 o’clock tonight where they will honor the 2. Six year old man from Columbia who was killed in an ICE-involved shooting earlier this morning. There’s also *** protest that is just getting started in Portland in Monument Square, also honoring that life lost as we wait for more details. I’m live in Biddeford. Nora Hogan for Mayfield coverage for now back to you, John. Nora, thank you. This incident, while we wait for the answers of what happened again, though still putting Maine in the national spotlight and the conversation over immigration enforcement in January we’ve been talking about this, revisiting at the ICE agents spread out across Maine for the operation catch of the day. It was *** very controversial operation at the time. Last week in Houston, Texas as well, 52 year old Mexican national was shot by an ICE agent. And today Minnesota prosecutors announced that they’ve obtained some key evidence in their investigations into the fatal shootings there of Renee Goode and Alex Preddy. Those incidents occurred during protests against *** federal immigration enforcement crackdown that also happening earlier this year. Several developments as this conversation over immigration here in the United States continue, but I can feel it here. The tension is high as the crowd of anti-ICE protesters continues to arrive. We’ll watch as they continue to fill the corner there of water in Main Streets here in Biddeford.
Joan Sebastian Guerrero: What we know about man killed by ICE in Biddeford, Maine
A man was shot and killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Biddeford on Monday morning.On Monday evening, a family friend told Maine’s Total Coverage Joan Sebastian Guerrero was killed in the shooting Monday morning. She said Guerrero leaves behind a wife, 3-year-old child, and sister.The Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition previously said the victim, later identified as Guerrero, was a 26-year-old man from Colombia. Mufalo Chitam, the group’s executive director, told CNN that the man was on his way to work. The group said he was authorized to work in the US and was issued a social security number.On Tuesday afternoon, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told ABC News that Guerrero “illegally entered the United States on September 1, 2023, via the southern border,” and was granted a work permit in May of 2025. Though it is unclear if Guerrero had a pending asylum case, in some cases work permits are given to those with pending asylum claims while they are in the country, but DHS said that wouldn’t alter his status of being illegally in the United States. DHS Spokesperson:“Johan Sebastian Duran Guerrero illegally entered the United States on September 1, 2023, via the southern border and was released into the country under the Biden Administration.“He was granted work authorization in May 2025. To be clear, work authorization does NOT confer legal status in the United States.”The Colombian Embassy shared a statement on Monday afternoon.”The Embassy of Colombia in the United States, through its Consular Section, is in contact with the relevant U.S. authorities and with representatives of community organisations assisting in the case. Consular officials are working to formally confirm the individual’s identity and nationality and to determine the appropriate procedures in accordance with applicable legal and consular protocols.”As of Tuesday morning, investigators had not released his identity. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said ICE was “conducting targeted surveillance on the last known address of an illegal alien” for what is described as a final order of removal. They said “an illegal alien” left the home in a vehicle and ICE officers tried to stop the vehicle as the driver kept going. They said the officer feared for public safety when he shot at the vehicle, hitting and killing the driver. Sen. Angus King’s office told Maine’s Total Coverage on Monday afternoon that the senator had spoken with DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and was told that Guerrero was not the target of their warrant on Monday. It was not clear if he was connected to a broader investigation. ICE did not clarify if the man who died Monday morning was the target of their operation.
A man was shot and killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Biddeford on Monday morning.
On Monday evening, a family friend told Maine’s Total Coverage Joan Sebastian Guerrero was killed in the shooting Monday morning. She said Guerrero leaves behind a wife, 3-year-old child, and sister.
The Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition previously said the victim, later identified as Guerrero, was a 26-year-old man from Colombia. Mufalo Chitam, the group’s executive director, told CNN that the man was on his way to work. The group said he was authorized to work in the US and was issued a social security number.
On Tuesday afternoon, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told ABC News that Guerrero “illegally entered the United States on September 1, 2023, via the southern border,” and was granted a work permit in May of 2025.
Though it is unclear if Guerrero had a pending asylum case, in some cases work permits are given to those with pending asylum claims while they are in the country, but DHS said that wouldn’t alter his status of being illegally in the United States.
DHS Spokesperson:
“Johan Sebastian Duran Guerrero illegally entered the United States on September 1, 2023, via the southern border and was released into the country under the Biden Administration.
“He was granted work authorization in May 2025. To be clear, work authorization does NOT confer legal status in the United States.”
The Colombian Embassy shared a statement on Monday afternoon.
“The Embassy of Colombia in the United States, through its Consular Section, is in contact with the relevant U.S. authorities and with representatives of community organisations (sic) assisting in the case. Consular officials are working to formally confirm the individual’s identity and nationality and to determine the appropriate procedures in accordance with applicable legal and consular protocols.”
As of Tuesday morning, investigators had not released his identity. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said ICE was “conducting targeted surveillance on the last known address of an illegal alien” for what is described as a final order of removal. They said “an illegal alien” left the home in a vehicle and ICE officers tried to stop the vehicle as the driver kept going. They said the officer feared for public safety when he shot at the vehicle, hitting and killing the driver.
Sen. Angus King’s office told Maine’s Total Coverage on Monday afternoon that the senator had spoken with DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and was told that Guerrero was not the target of their warrant on Monday. It was not clear if he was connected to a broader investigation. ICE did not clarify if the man who died Monday morning was the target of their operation.