An employee of the GEO Group, which operates a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainment center in Aurora, Colorado, was arrested on July 16, 2026, after allegedly shooting a woman during a protest. The incident occurred near the Aurora ICE Processing Center at 3130 Oakland Street. The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Brandon Booth, faces charges of assault and attempted second-degree murder. He was apprehended in a vehicle less than two blocks from the shooting scene, where police reported finding a gun inside the vehicle.
According to the Aurora Police Department, the victim was a protester, although her identity and the group she was affiliated with have not been disclosed. Police stated that the confrontation began when two women took pictures of employees' vehicles. Booth then allegedly retrieved his personal firearm and fired a shot, hitting one of the women in the lower body. Her injuries were reported as non-life-threatening.
A spokesperson for GEO Group confirmed that Booth has been placed on unpaid administrative leave and stated that the company will cooperate with law enforcement. Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain described the incident as a tragedy and emphasized the department's commitment to a thorough investigation.
This shooting follows two recent incidents involving ICE officers, including a fatal shooting in Houston, Texas, and another in Biddeford, Maine. In response to these events, the Department of Homeland Security briefly paused most ICE traffic stops, a decision that was later overturned by President Trump.