An ICE agent shooting in Austin has left a Venezuelan man seriously wounded and prompted protests, clashes with police and demands for an independent investigation.
Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, 29, was shot in the torso beneath an overpass in north Austin shortly before 1pm on Sunday. His attorney identified him as a Venezuelan national, while officials said he was in a serious but stable condition in hospital.
The confrontation followed a traffic stop and a brief foot pursuit involving the federal immigration agent, according to preliminary accounts from local officials. Austin police said their officers did not fire the shots.
Police Chief Lisa Davis said the incident may have involved a foot pursuit but stressed that investigators had limited information and that the circumstances remained under examination.
Witnesses said the man appeared to have been shot in the back after leaving his vehicle, although that account has not been independently established by authorities. Onlookers said he ran from the small blue Toyota sedan after it came to a halt.
The car was later found beneath the overpass with bullet holes across the passenger-side door and surrounded by police tape. At least one person in civilian clothing who appeared uninjured was handcuffed at the scene, according to Austin council member Mike Siegel.
Protests follow Austin ICE shooting
Anger over the shooting grew through the day, with a crowd gathering near the scene as evening approached. Protesters, some waving Mexican flags, shouted anti-ICE slogans and demanded to know whether the agent involved had been arrested.
Some demonstrators threw rocks and water bottles at riot police deployed by the Austin Police Department. Officers responded by firing pepper balls, while local reports said chemical agents were used to disperse the crowd.
Democratic congressman Greg Casar, who represents Austin, called for an independent investigation and the immediate release of body-camera footage.
“As the facts emerge, I am demanding a full, independent investigation, immediate release of the body camera footage, and accountability for any ICE officer who broke the law,” Mr Casar said.
He added: “Over and over, ICE has shot people and then lied about what happened,” referring to the fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis earlier this year.
Austin mayor Kirk Watson said local police should have a role in examining the incident and called for a “clear-eyed, third-party look” rather than an investigation conducted solely by ICE.
Ms Davis said local investigators were at the scene and communicating with federal authorities. Federal officials had not released a full account of the encounter or identified the agent involved by Sunday evening.
It was also unclear whether the officer remained in Austin. Mr Watson said he hoped an agent involved in an officer-involved shooting would not leave the city or state while the investigation was under way.
The shooting has drawn comparisons with the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston in July, which remains under investigation. “This is a pattern. This is a disturbing pattern,” Mr Casar said.
