An employee at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Aurora, Colorado, has been arrested after authorities accused him of shooting a woman who had participated in an anti-ICE demonstration outside the facility.
Aurora Police identified the suspect as 42-year-old Brandon Booth, an employee of GEO Group, the private contractor that operates the ICE Processing Center.
He was taken into custody on Thursday evening after officers stopped his vehicle a short distance from the scene.
Police Say Demonstration Preceded the Incident
According to investigators, the shooting occurred after a protest outside the ICE Processing Center on Oakland Street, where demonstrators had blocked access to the facility.
Police said Booth was among employees attempting to reach work when traffic was delayed by the demonstration.
Investigators allege that two female protesters later approached employees’ vehicles, engaged in a verbal confrontation, and photographed the vehicles before walking away.
Authorities say Booth then retrieved a personally owned handgun and fired a single shot in the women’s direction, striking one of them in the lower body before leaving the area in his vehicle.
Victim Hospitalized With Non-Life-Threatening Injury
Responding officers located two women at the scene, one of whom had suffered a gunshot wound. The injured woman was transported to a hospital for treatment, and police said her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. The second woman was unharmed.
Officers subsequently recovered a firearm from Booth’s vehicle after stopping him nearby.
Multiple Criminal Allegations Filed
Police booked Booth on probable cause for several offenses, including attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, attempted first-degree assault, felony menacing, and unlawful carrying of a concealed weapon.
Authorities noted that Booth has not yet been formally charged, and the investigation remains ongoing.
GEO Group Places Employee on Administrative Leave
In a statement, GEO Group confirmed it was aware of the incident and said Booth has been placed on unpaid administrative leave.
The company added that it intends to cooperate fully with law enforcement as the investigation proceeds.
Police Emphasize Commitment to Thorough Investigation
Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain described the shooting as a tragedy and said investigators would conduct an objective and transparent review of the case.
He also stressed that while peaceful protest is protected under the Constitution, violence has no place in the community and will not be tolerated.
Authorities Seek Additional Witnesses
Investigators are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or captured video footage to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers as they continue gathering evidence.
The shooting comes amid heightened public attention surrounding several recent incidents involving ICE personnel, including separate fatal and non-fatal shootings in Maine and Texas that remain under investigation.
