- An ICE agent shot and wounded a Venezuelan man in Austin as he was delivering for DoorDash, according to Texas officials and the man's wife.
- The man, identified as Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, was in serious but stable condition after being shot in the torso.
- More than 100 protesters amassed at the shooting scene.
- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), along with the FBI, is leading the investigation into the shooting. DHS described Perez as an "illegal alien from Venezuela, who illegally entered our country under the Biden administration."
- Austin Mayor Kirk Watson expressed anger but not surprise, given "the way ICE is doing its business these days." He and other officials expect local police and Texas Rangers to be part of the investigation.
- Bystander videos show the car rolling forward slightly and three gunshots ringing out, with Perez appearing to bleed from a wound to his upper left back when removed and handcuffed; the footage does not show officers providing medical care.
- Perez's wife, a legal resident, hasn't been permitted to see him and doesn't know where he is, according to her lawyer.
Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan DoorDash driver, was shot by an ICE agent in Austin while delivering food. He is currently in serious but stable condition after being shot in the torso. His wife reported that he informed her he was shot inside his car.12
The incident occurred as Perez was delivering for DoorDash, and videos from bystanders show him bleeding from a wound to his upper left back as he was removed from the vehicle. The car, a blue Toyota Corolla, displayed two bullet holes in the back passenger window and a dent in the front passenger door.89
In response to the shooting, over 100 protesters gathered at the scene, expressing their outrage. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson voiced his anger, stating, “I’m very angry about this, but I’m not surprised at all,” reflecting concerns about ICE's operations under the current administration.367
The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are leading the investigation, with local police and Texas Rangers expected to participate. Perez’s wife, a legal resident, has not been allowed to see him and is unaware of his current location, according to her lawyer.10
The agency described Perez as an “illegal alien from Venezuela, who illegally entered our country under the Biden administration.” This incident has sparked significant public outcry and raised questions about the treatment of undocumented immigrants by federal agents.
“The 28-year-old victim, Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, was shot in the torso and is in serious but stable condition; his wife, a legal resident, has not been permitted to see him. Bystander videos show three gunshots and no officers providing medical care, while Mayor Kirk Watson said he is 'very angry' but 'not surprised at all.'”
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