A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer accused of fatally shooting a Colombian man in Biddeford, Maine, on Monday had a history of violent behavior and racist beliefs, according to his ex-wife and a former friend. David Brouillette allegedly shot Joan Durán Guerrero four times during a traffic stop.
Ex-Wife Describes Abuse and Racist Remarks
Ashley Brouillette, David’s ex-wife, told NPR he called her Wednesday, asking her to vouch for his character. She refused, citing years of abuse, including an incident where he allegedly pointed a gun at her in the shower, threatening to "blow [her] brains all over the bathtub." No police reports corroborate the claim, though she later recanted statements to authorities due to intimidation.
She also revealed a 2023 voicemail in which Brouillette slurred, "Do I think that you should have your f****** throat cut? ... Yep." Ashley said she had previously warned officials about his mental health diagnoses—bipolar disorder and borderline schizophrenia—but was dismissed as a "petty ex-wife."
Former Friend Alleges Racism and Aggression
Scott Collins, a high school friend of Brouillette, testified in Ashley’s divorce proceedings that Brouillette "had a bad tendency of going out and looking for fights." Collins also stated Brouillette used anti-Black racial slurs in school. David’s attorneys claimed Collins was "jealous" of Brouillette’s career success.
Court records from 2021 show Brouillette’s second ex-wife, Lucinda, accused him of aggression toward their then-13-year-old daughter. In one incident, he allegedly dragged her from bed after she called him verbally abusive. Child protective services and police were called to his home in 2022 after he threw his daughter through a glass table, Ashley said.
ICE and White House Respond
ICE declined to confirm or deny Brouillette’s involvement but stated the officer in question had "nearly a decade of federal law enforcement experience with required training." The White House has said ICE traffic stops will continue despite recent deadly shootings. Brouillette did not respond to NPR’s requests for comment.
Ashley Brouillette said she now feels compelled to speak out: "I really need to push and be heard now and hopefully prevent something like this from happening again."
