An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot a Venezuelan man in Austin, Texas, on Sunday after encountering him during a routine license plate check, according to sources familiar with the incident. The man, identified as 28-year-old Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, was not the initial subject of a federal investigation before the encounter, the sources said.
ICE agents stopped Mr. Garces Perez at approximately 12:45 p.m. while he was working as a DoorDash delivery driver. After identifying themselves as ICE officers and informing him that he was going to be arrested, Mr. Garces Perez fled in his vehicle, prompting a brief pursuit. The shooting took place during a subsequent encounter, according to the sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Mr. Garces Perez was struck in the torso and transported to a hospital, where he was treated and later placed in ICE custody. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that he was in stable condition. His attorney confirmed he is currently detained at the South Texas ICE Processing Center in Pearsall, Texas. Juan Proaño, chief executive of the League of United Latin American Citizens, stated that Mr. Garces Perez has been denied pain medication for a bullet that remains lodged in his back while being questioned at the facility.
This incident marks the second shooting involving an ICE agent in Texas since July and adds to a growing number of violent encounters involving federal immigration agents nationwide. DHS investigations into the case are being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Local officials and community leaders have called for an independent investigation. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson condemned the shooting at a news conference, while Representative Greg Casar, whose district includes Austin, requested immediate release of unedited video footage and full access to all evidence. Casar also urged the suspension of the officer involved, emphasizing the need for transparency amid previous accusations of misinformation by DHS in similar cases.
Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza has called for collaborative efforts between his office, the Austin Police Department, and federal authorities to ensure a thorough inquiry. James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for state Senate, echoed these calls for an independent investigation and transparency.
Video footage circulated on social media and verified by independent observers shows a blue Toyota Corolla driven by Mr. Garces Perez and an unmarked Ford SUV used by the ICE agent. The vehicles were stopped facing opposite directions as the agent exited his vehicle. The video captures three gunshots while the Toyota moves slowly forward before stopping. Following the shots, the officer approaches the driver’s side of the Corolla.
A bystander identified only as Carlos, a 60-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen, witnessed the aftermath and spoke with Mr. Garces Perez, who appeared to be in pain and confirmed he had been shot in the back. According to Carlos, the driver told him the officer fired because he did not stop the vehicle upon command.