U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R) and Angus King (I) are calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to work closely with Maine state and local law enforcement as multiple investigations continue into Tuesday’s fatal officer-involved shooting in Biddeford involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel.
In a letter sent Tuesday to Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, the senators urged the Department of Justice, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to fully cooperate with Maine authorities to ensure the investigation is thorough, transparent, and impartial.
“We write to request that the Department of Justice, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), cooperate with state and local law enforcement in the investigation of yesterday’s fatal shooting in Biddeford, Maine, involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel,” Collins and King wrote.
The senators noted that the FBI has already opened an investigation into the shooting and is working alongside the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General.
“We appreciate these steps,” the senators wrote. “The facts surrounding the shooting remain a matter of significant local and national concern, and it is important that these investigations provide clear answers as to what transpired yesterday.”
Collins and King said cooperation between federal, state, and local agencies will be critical to maintaining public confidence in the outcome of the investigation.
“Federal law enforcement agencies must fully cooperate with state and local law enforcement throughout the investigations to give the public confidence that the inquiries have been conducted in a thorough, fair, and impartial manner,” the senators wrote.
The shooting has drawn significant attention across Maine and nationwide as investigators continue working to determine the circumstances surrounding the encounter involving ICE personnel. Multiple agencies remain involved in the ongoing investigation, and officials have released limited information while the case remains active.
The senators’ request comes as state and federal authorities continue gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses in an effort to establish a complete account of the events that led to the fatal shooting.
