ICE agent shoots Venezuelan delivery driver in Austin, prompting calls for independent investigation
A federal immigration officer shot a 28-year-old Venezuelan man delivering for DoorDash in Austin, leaving him in serious but stable condition, and local officials are demanding a transparent probe.
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan national who was working for DoorDash, on the north side of Austin shortly before 1 p.m. on Sunday. Emergency services reported a single torso wound and said his condition was serious but stable.
Mayor Kirk Watson said the victim’s condition was serious yet stable, and Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis noted that a foot pursuit may have preceded the shooting, though investigators have limited details at this stage. The Austin Police Department was not involved in the shooting, but its investigators are coordinating with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which will lead the inquiry with assistance from the FBI.
Garces Perez’s attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, said the man was released from Dell Seton Medical Center into what she believes was ICE custody and that his family received little information about his status. She added that when the lawyer’s team arrived at the hospital, law-enforcement officers told them they could not remain on the property.
City Council member Mike Siegel alleged that an ICE officer rammed the victim’s car before firing at least five shots. A dark-blue Toyota Corolla was found with damage and apparent bullet holes near the scene.
U.S. Representative Greg Casar and local officials called for a full, independent investigation, the release of body-camera footage, and accountability for any wrongdoing. The Department of Homeland Security has not responded to requests for comment.
The incident follows other recent ICE shootings, including a fatal shooting in Houston in July and a non-fatal shooting in Maine, and occurs amid ongoing federal immigration enforcement actions.