Protester Shot Near Colorado ICE Detention Center
In a troubling incident, an officer from the Colorado Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility has reportedly shot and killed a female protester while she was attempting to go to work on a Thursday night.
According to police reports, Brandon Booth, 42, who works for GEO Group—the company that operates the Aurora ICE processing center—was idling in his car along a nearby street with other employees due to protests obstructing entry to the center.
It seems that a confrontation began between Booth and two female protesters, who were allegedly photographing the vehicle of a detention officer before departing the area.
Booth then reportedly fired one shot at the two protesters, hitting one in the lower body, and subsequently fled the scene.
After the shooting, he was apprehended a couple of blocks away, and authorities suspect that the firearm used belonged to Booth.
He has been charged with assault and attempted second-degree murder relating to the incident near the detention center.
The injured woman, identified as a protester, is currently receiving treatment at a local hospital.
While it remains unclear which protest group the victims were affiliated with, various organizations have staged demonstrations outside Colorado’s ICE facilities at different times throughout the year.
Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain described the event as a tragedy, assuring the public that the police department would investigate the matter with transparency and integrity.
“We are committed to a comprehensive review of the situation. Violence won’t be tolerated in Aurora. While constitutional rights are essential in a just society, violence is not the answer,” he stated.
The Aurora ICE Processing Facility is the only operational ICE detention center in Colorado, housing up to 1,500 beds and managed by GEO Group. A spokesperson for the company acknowledged that an off-duty employee was involved in a shooting incident and confirmed that this individual has been placed on unpaid leave while cooperating with law enforcement.
