AP report: ICE officer in Maine shooting has history of violent behavior, family and records say

By — Jack Brook, Associated Press Jack Brook, Associated Press By — Mike Sisak, Associated Press Mike Sisak, Associated Press By — Amanda Swinhart, Associated Press Amanda Swinhart, Associated Press By — Claire Galofaro, Associated Press Claire Galofaro, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/ap-report-ice-officer-in-maine-shooting-has-history-of-violent-behavior-family-and-records-say Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter AP report: ICE officer in Maine shooting has history of violent behavior, family and records say Nation Jul 17, 2026 10:19 AM EDT AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who shot a Colombian man in Maine this week is an Army veteran who has struggled with serious mental health issues since early childhood and never should have been given a badge and gun to patrol American streets, several of his close relatives told The Associated Press. David Brouillette has a history of terrifying and violent behavior, according to those relatives. They accuse him of attacking women in his life over the years, and one shared a voicemail with the AP from last winter in which he told her that he thought someone should slit her throat. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Brouillette's troubling past further challenges how thoroughly the Department of Homeland Security has vetted recruits as it went on a hiring spree to help carry out President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. At least 10 people have died in encounters with immigration agents since Trump launched the crackdown after retaking office, including 25-year-old Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a Colombian national who was shot and killed by Brouillette on Monday while in his car near his home in the coastal Maine city of Biddeford. READ MORE: DHS says ICE officer who fatally shot driver in Maine was 'fearing for public safety' DHS, which hasn't released the name of the officer who killed Durán Guerrero, has said the "vehicle attempted to flee the scene and, fearing for public safety, an officer discharged his weapon." Brouillette didn't respond to text messages or an email seeking comment. Three relatives who said they had spoken to him since the shooting, including an ex-wife and daughter, said he told them he acted in self-defense. WATCH: Maine Sen. King says feds lack credibility, locals need role in ICE shooting investigation When reached for comment about Brouillette's record and his role in Monday's shooting, ICE spokesperson Lauren Bis said in a statement that, "We will never confirm or deny attempts to dox our law enforcement officers," and that "The ICE officer in question has nearly a decade of federal law enforcement experience with required training including use of force training." The White House referred all questions about the shooting and Brouillette to ICE. A new