Trial Set for GEO Group Officer Charged in July ICE Protester Shooting
Judge Martin Flaum ordered trial for Brandon Booth, charged with assault after July 2026 ICE protest shooting.
Why it matters: The case scrutinizes use-of-force policies for contracted corrections officers within immigration enforcement. It may influence legal standards on law enforcement accountability and civil rights protections in protest contexts.
- Brandon Booth, a 42-year-old GEO Group corrections officer, shot protester Emma Landis in the foot during a July 16, 2026 protest at Aurora ICE Processing Center.
- Booth fired brass training ammunition aiming to deter protesters who blocked facility access and made threats; protesters allege excessive force.
- On September 23, 2026, Judge Martin Flaum found sufficient evidence to prosecute Booth for assault with extreme indifference, a charge indicating reckless disregard for human life.
- Booth's arraignment is set for October 28, 2026, highlighting legal examination of contracted officers' conduct and use-of-force at immigration detention protests.
On July 16, 2026, Brandon Booth, a corrections officer contracted through the GEO Group, fired brass training ammunition at protesters outside the Aurora ICE Processing Center in Colorado, striking 22-year-old Emma Landis in the foot. The protesters had blocked the facility's entrance, preventing Booth from clocking in for his shift.
According to The Denver Post, protesters including Landis and Mandy Dillon confronted Booth with verbal threats and derogatory remarks, reporting they called him a 'race traitor' and 'Nazi' and threatened his family. Booth responded by firing brass training rounds from a pistol to disperse the crowd. Sergeant Gabriel Nestor of the Aurora Police Department told reporters Booth intended to shoot between protesters to scare them rather than cause injury, stating he "wasn't trying to hit them in any vital areas." Nonetheless, Landis was hit.
Booth’s internal affidavit after the incident reveals his acknowledgement of poor judgment, though the exact language quoted in earlier reports has been contextualized by legal counsel to avoid informal phrasing. Legal experts note that his actions now face scrutiny under Colorado’s assault statutes, particularly the rarely applied charge of assault with extreme indifference. Prosecutor Sara Carty, Chief Deputy District Attorney, explained at a hearing, "This charge refers to conduct showing reckless disregard for human life without specific intent to harm a particular individual."
On September 23, 2026, Federal District Judge Martin Flaum ruled there is probable cause to proceed to trial on these charges. Booth is scheduled for arraignment on October 28, 2026. The case underscores the challenges and legal responsibilities of contracted officers working at immigration detention centers amid ongoing protests.
Independent observers from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and local legal watchdog groups have called for heightened transparency and clearer guidelines on use of force in these settings. Legal professionals specializing in law enforcement accountability will closely monitor this trial, as it may set precedents affecting policies across immigration-related facilities nationwide.
By the numbers:
- July 16, 2026 — Date of the protester shooting outside Aurora ICE Processing Center
- September 23, 2026 — Judge Flaum’s ruling to proceed to trial
- October 28, 2026 — Scheduled arraignment date for Brandon Booth
Yes, but: While prosecutors emphasize reckless disregard in the charges, Booth’s defense cites his intent to avoid serious harm using non-lethal ammunition, underscoring contested facts regarding proportionality of force.
What's next: Trial preparations continue ahead of Booth's arraignment on October 28, 2026, with further hearings expected to clarify evidentiary matters and legal arguments.