An employee of the private company that operates the immigration detention centre in Aurora, Colorado, was arrested after police say he fired one shot that struck a woman taking part in a protest outside the facility.
Arrest and charges
Police identified the suspect as Brandon Booth, 42. He was taken into custody on Nome Street — less than two blocks from the scene — and was later booked into the Adams County jail at 8:57 a.m. on the following day, jail records show.
According to police statements, Booth faces a slate of criminal counts, including attempted second-degree murder, assault-related offences and weapons charges. Authorities said Booth was in a vehicle that contained a pistol when he was detained.
What police say happened
Officers were called to the area in the 3100 block of Oakland Street and the 3100 block of North Nome Street after reports of gunfire shortly before 7:30 p.m. Police say two women had been participating in a protest outside the GEO Group-run facility and were taking photographs of employees' vehicles. The confrontation between protesters and employees is described in the police post:
"Two women initiated a verbal confrontation and took pictures of the employees' vehicles before walking away."
Police allege Booth then retrieved a personally owned pistol and fired a single shot that struck one woman in the lower part of her body. Her injuries were described by authorities as non-life-threatening. After the shooting, Booth is said to have left the area in his vehicle; he was located and arrested nearby.
Employer response and context
The detention complex where the incident occurred is run by the private contractor GEO Group on behalf of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. GEO Group said the employee involved was off duty at the time of the incident and has been placed on unpaid administrative leave. The company said it will cooperate with law enforcement.
- Location: GEO Group Aurora ICE Processing Center, 3100–3130 block of Oakland/Nome Street
- Suspect: Brandon Booth, 42, employee of GEO Group
- Victim: female protester, struck in lower body; injuries non-life-threatening
- Alleged weapon: personally owned pistol
Details at a glance
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Time of incident | Shortly before 7:30 p.m. |
| Arrest location | Nome Street, near the detention centre |
| Charges | Attempted second-degree murder, assault, felony menacing, unlawful carrying of a concealed weapon, among others |
| Employer action | Placed on unpaid administrative leave |
Protests have occurred at the site at various times this year; police have not specified which organisation, if any, the injured woman was associated with. Media outlets report that officers found the victim on scene and that the initial investigation indicates the shooting followed the verbal exchange.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the parent agency for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, had not provided an immediate public comment in the initial reporting. Law enforcement agencies continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the sequence of events that led to the confrontation.
Readers should note this is a developing matter; further details, including any court proceedings or formal statements from federal agencies, may follow as the investigation proceeds.
