Off-duty employee at Colorado ICE facility arrested for shooting protester

An employee of Geo Group, a private company contracted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has been arrested for shooting and injuring a woman protesting outside an ICE facility in Aurora, Colorado. The incident occurred Thursday evening, according to the Aurora police department.

Officers responding to the scene found the woman with a gunshot wound to her lower body. Her friend, who was present during the incident, was unharmed. Police apprehended a suspect, identified as Brandon Booth, 42, in his vehicle near the scene. His car and a firearm were seized.

A spokesperson for Geo Group confirmed awareness of the incident involving an off-duty employee, stating the individual has been placed on unpaid administrative leave and that the company will cooperate fully with law enforcement. Geo Group, a significant operator of private immigration detention centers, has faced criticism regarding conditions at its facilities, including a recent tuberculosis outbreak at the Aurora center.

According to police, protesters had blocked the facility's entrance on the evening of the shooting, causing employees like Booth to wait in their cars. Police reported that the two women initiated a verbal confrontation and took photos of employees' vehicles before walking away. Booth then allegedly retrieved his pistol and fired a single shot, striking one of the women before driving away.

Booth was arrested on suspicion of attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, attempted first-degree assault, felony menacing, and unlawful carrying of a concealed weapon. The injured woman was hospitalized and is expected to recover. Aurora's chief of police, Todd Chamberlain, called the event a "tragedy on all fronts" and reiterated a commitment to a thorough review, emphasizing that violence is not tolerated and constitutional rights are paramount.

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This is a tragedy on all fronts. We remain committed to ensuring an ethical, thorough, objective, and comprehensive review of this case. Violence of any kind will not be tolerated in Aurora. Constitutional rights are a pivotal part of a just society – violence is not.