An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot a man during a law enforcement operation in Austin, Texas, on Sunday afternoon, sparking immediate protests and sharp criticism from local officials.
The man, identified by his legal counsel as 28-year-old Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a Venezuelan national, was transported to a local hospital with a gunshot wound to his torso. Medical personnel described his condition as serious but stable. According to his attorneys, Perez has since been released from medical care and transferred to ICE custody at an undisclosed location.
The Austin Police Department confirmed the shooting occurred near the intersection of Research Boulevard and Anderson Square in North Austin. At the time of the encounter, Perez was working as a delivery driver for DoorDash, according to both his legal representation and the delivery platform.
Video footage obtained from a witness shows Perez sitting hunched over in the driver’s seat of a blue sedan, surrounded by ICE officers. In the recording, he can be heard stating in Spanish that he was shot because he did not stop his vehicle. Later portions of the video show officers cutting away his shirt while he sits handcuffed, revealing a gunshot wound on his back.
The Department of Homeland Security released a statement indicating that Homeland Security Investigations, working alongside the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is conducting the investigation into the officer-involved shooting. The statement identified Perez as an individual who entered the country illegally during the previous administration and had received a final order of removal. Law enforcement sources have indicated that Perez was the intended target of the operation.
“The illegal alien’s condition is stable, and he is in federal custody pending removal,” the Department of Homeland Security stated, adding that additional information would be released as the investigation progresses.
The incident has created significant tension between federal immigration authorities and local officials. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson issued a strongly worded statement expressing his displeasure with the events.
“While I’m angry and disappointed, I’m not surprised,” Watson stated. “This has happened in other cities. With the rogue nature of ICE and the chaos we’re seeing fomented by ICE, there’s no reason to be surprised. Austinites have a right to know what happened and they have a right to feel safe in their community.”
Perez’s legal team has voiced frustration over the lack of communication from federal authorities. According to the firm, Perez’s wife has received no updates regarding his medical condition or current status, nor has she been permitted to speak with him since the shooting.
“We’ve not heard from ICE. No one has updated her about his care or how he is doing, and she has not spoken to him yet. So, we will be pursuing justice,” the legal team stated.
The shooting represents the latest flashpoint in ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement agencies and local jurisdictions over enforcement tactics and public safety protocols. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting remains ongoing.
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