A man who was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Biddeford, Maine, on Monday was not the intended target of the arrest warrant that federal agents were executing, according to a statement from Senator Angus King's office. This clarification came after an earlier statement from King, who had reported that Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin informed him the victim was the target of an immigration enforcement operation.
King stated that Mullin later contacted him to correct the information, indicating that the victim was not the target of the warrant. The victim was described as a male in his 20s who had been ordered to leave the country. During the incident, he was in a vehicle that reportedly attempted to flee when ICE agents attempted to conduct a stop, leading to the officer discharging his weapon.
An ICE spokesperson confirmed that agents were conducting targeted surveillance on the last known address of an individual with a final order of removal. The spokesperson stated that emergency services were called after the driver was struck, and the incident is under investigation by the Biddeford Police Department and the FBI.
Senator King emphasized the need for a full and transparent investigation into the shooting, noting concerns about the lack of video evidence from body cameras. He stated that the community has the right to demand answers and that any unjustified actions should be addressed.
Governor Janet Mills and Senator Susan Collins also called for a thorough investigation. The Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition identified the victim as a 26-year-old Colombian man, expressing condolences and calling for accountability regarding the incident.