An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer allegedly involved in the fatal shooting of a Colombian man in Maine has a history of violence and racist beliefs, according to those familiar with him. Yuki Iwamura/AP
David Brouillette, identified by his ex-wife Ashley Brouillette, allegedly shot Joan Durán Guerrero four times during an attempted traffic stop in Biddeford, Maine. Ashley revealed he called her on Wednesday, asking her to vouch for his character. She refused to lie for him or omit discussing their abusive marriage. David Brouillette did not respond to NPR’s requests for comments.
ICE spokesperson Lauren Bis stated the agency will not confirm or deny Brouillette’s involvement but confirmed the officer in question has nearly a decade of federal law enforcement experience. Scott Collins, a former high school friend of David, supported Ashley in divorce proceedings, disputing claims from David’s attorneys that his friendship ended with David due to jealousy. Collins said David tended to seek fights and used racial slurs.
Ashley expressed concerns that racism contributed to Durán Guerrero’s death, recalling her ex-husband’s high school nickname, ‘White Boy David.’ She has known him since they were preteens, and their marriage from 2007 to 2009 had multiple violent incidents, including one involving a gun. Despite lacking police reports, Ashley recounted recanting her stories after reporting David’s actions due to intimidation.
Ashley retained a voicemail from November when she filed a restraining order against David. In it, David used offensive language and suggested violent threats. During their divorce in 2009, attempts to inform the Maine Army National Guard about David’s mental health issues were dismissed.
When David claimed to have joined ICE last year, Ashley was skeptical. She suspects there might not have been a thorough background check. In 2022, child protective services and police were alerted after an incident where David allegedly threw his daughter through a glass coffee table. In 2021, David was temporarily stripped of firearms due to aggressive behavior toward his daughter, as documented by his second ex-wife, Lucinda Brouillette.
Distraught by the recent events, Ashley regrets the lack of response to previous warnings about David’s mental health. She hopes her voice will now be heard to prevent similar incidents.