An employee at the Aurora immigration detention facility has been arrested on suspicion of the shooting of a protester near the facility on Thursday, police said.
Brandon Booth, 42, opened fire after two female protesters initiated a “verbal confrontation” with employees who couldn’t get into the facility because of a demonstration taking place outside the center, according to a statement from Aurora police posted to X.
The detention center, located in the 3100 block of Oakland Street, is run by the GEO Group, a contractor for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
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, police said.
He was booked into the Adams County jail at 8:57 a.m. on Friday, jail records show.
The GEO Group said in an emailed statement that the shooting happened while Booth was off duty.
“This individual has been placed on unpaid administrative leave, and we will fully cooperate with law enforcement,” the company said.
Police said the shooting occurred sometime before 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, when officers responded to reports of a shooting in the 3100 block of North Nome Street. Officers found the victim shot in her lower body.
An initial investigation found that the victim and another woman had been participating in a protest outside the detention facility. Booth was waiting in his vehicle along Nome Street with other workers, unable to get by protestors and enter the complex to start their work shifts, police said.
The victim and another protestor were taking photos of employees’ vehicles and initiated a “verbal confrontation,” police said.
The women walked away before police said Booth retrieved a pistol he owned and fired a single shot in their direction, striking the victim.
The victim was taken to an area hospital to be treated. Her injuries aren’t believed to be life threatening, police said. The other woman wasn’t hurt, police said.
Booth drove away before being detained nearby, police said.
It wasn’t immediately clear if Booth had a lawyer representing him. The Colorado Sun sent a request for comment to Booth in the jail through an Adams County sheriff’s sergeant on Friday afternoon.
This is a developing story and will be updated.