What Happened During The Latest ICE-Involved Shooting

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released new details after a federal immigration agent fatally shot a man in Biddeford, Maine, on Monday.

The agency, which waited nearly 12 hours after the shooting to release any details, said that the incident took place around 7 a.m. local time when agents were “conducting targeted surveillance on the last known address of an illegal alien with a final order of removal.”

An illegal immigrant left the residence in a vehicle before ICE agents “attempted to conduct a vehicle stop.” When the driver “attempted to flee,” an officer “fearing for public safety” then fired his weapon, ICE said.

“The driver of the vehicle was struck, and emergency services were immediately contacted. He passed away from his injuries,” ICE said.

The Biddeford Police Department and the FBI responded to the scene, ICE said. The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General was also “notified,” and an investigation is pending.

“This is a developing situation, and we will update the public when more information is available,” ICE said.

Initial statements claimed that the Colombian man was trying to flee “in the direction of the officer” when he was shot, according to CNN, citing the Office of the Maine Attorney General.

ICE’s statement did not allege that the man shot and killed by officers tried to hit them with his vehicle.

Local officials earlier identified the suspect as a 26-year-old Colombian man, but did not reveal his name.

Maine Sen. Angus King (I-ME) said Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told him that the man who was shot was not their intended target, according to CNN. King made the statement while walking back an earlier claim he said Mullin made that the deceased man was the intended target.

“Senator King continued to emphasize the need for a full, comprehensive, and transparent investigation,” his office said in a statement.

The shooting comes just days after an ICE officer fatally shot a Mexican illegal immigrant, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, in Houston.

Both shootings have sparked protests in both Texas and Maine. Anti-ICE demonstrators quickly assembled at Republican Maine Sen. Susan Collins’ office Monday, shouting “Vote her out.”