An ICE shooting in Austin has left a 28-year-old Venezuelan man wounded and in federal custody, as local officials demand an independent investigation into the actions of the immigration agent involved.
Wilber Rafael Garces Perez was shot in the upper torso near Anderson Square and Research Boulevard in North Austin on Sunday, 20 September. He was taken to hospital in serious but stable condition before being released into federal custody, according to his lawyer.
Attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, who says she represents Mr Garces Perez’s family, said he was working as a DoorDash delivery driver when the incident happened. She said his relatives had struggled to obtain information about his condition and whereabouts.
What happened in the Austin ICE shooting?
Austin-Travis County emergency crews were called to the scene at about 12.56pm after reports of a shooting. Paramedics found Mr Garces Perez with a single gunshot wound and took him to a trauma centre within minutes.
Austin police chief Lisa Davis said preliminary information indicated there had been a vehicle pursuit followed by a brief foot chase. The Texas Department of Public Safety said it had received a request from ICE for assistance with a pursuit involving a blue Toyota Corolla, but the shooting had taken place before troopers arrived.
Austin police were not involved in the shooting. Officers helped manage traffic and secure the area, while the department’s special investigations unit and Texas Rangers began work alongside federal authorities.
The Department of Homeland Security said Mr Garces Perez had entered the United States unlawfully and was subject to a final order of removal. It said Homeland Security Investigations, assisted by the FBI, was leading the federal inquiry and that he remained in custody pending removal.
Ms Lincoln-Goldfinch has disputed aspects of the federal account, saying her client had a valid work permit and had entered the country legally. The circumstances leading to the shooting, including why agents pursued him, have not been fully established.
Protests formed near the scene after the shooting, with demonstrators confronting law enforcement officers. Police and immigration agents later used chemical agents and other crowd-control measures as tensions rose.
Austin mayor Kirk Watson said residents deserved a complete account of what had happened and criticised the prospect of an investigation led solely by federal authorities.
“I am very angry and extremely disappointed that a person was shot on the streets of Austin by ICE,” Mr Watson said in a statement on social media.
He called for Austin police and the Travis County district attorney’s office to be equal partners in the investigation. The district attorney’s office said it was possible the incident could involve violations of state law and requested access to the evidence.
The federal investigation is expected to continue alongside inquiries by the Austin Police Department and Texas Rangers. Officials have not identified the ICE agent who fired the shot or said whether any charges are being considered.
