Videos shared on social media have shed light on the events surrounding the shooting of Venezuelan Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, aged 28, by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Austin. The incident took place shortly before 1 p.m. near Anderson Square and Research Boulevard on the city’s north side.
Garces Perez, identified by immigration attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, was delivering for DoorDash at the time of the shooting. Confirmed by DoorDash to Newsweek, he was making a delivery when the incident occurred. DoorDash stated they are actively investigating but had no additional details to share. They also highlighted that all Dashers operate as independent contractors.
It remains unclear if Garces Perez was a target in an immigration operation. Lincoln-Goldfinch mentioned he lawfully entered the U.S. through a parole program and was seeking asylum. She did not disclose his current immigration status. However, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson described Garces Perez as an “illegal alien” with a “final order of removal.” DHS claimed he entered under the Biden administration.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis stated that city officers were not involved in the shooting. She acknowledged reports of a “small foot pursuit” before the shooting, noting full details were not yet available. Videos from media and bystanders provide some insight into the event.
Bystander Videos Show Shooting, Aftermath
Austin resident Heidi Ann Clark documented the moment while driving by. Around 12:50 p.m., she heard a fast-moving vehicle brake hard across the road. Her livestream captured an unmarked SUV halting near a blue Toyota Corolla, reportedly Garces Perez’s vehicle. An ICE agent exited the SUV, armed, and approached the Corolla. Despite sirens, three shots were heard after the agent left his vehicle. Clark’s video, reviewed with Google Maps images, appears filmed from across the bridge where the shooting happened.
Additional video by Austin resident Celena Ramos and shared by Council Member Mike Siegel’s office shows the scene post-incident, with police arriving and cordoning off the area. A separate bystander video highlights the aftermath. A black vehicle’s agent exits, approaching the wounded driver, as witnesses question authorities demanding medical aid.
Witnesses confronted the agent, asking why the victim was shot and pressing for medical assistance. The wounded driver clutched his chest, visibly in pain, as onlookers expressed concerns over the delayed ambulance. Repeatedly, bystanders voiced dissatisfaction with statements like, “We pay taxes.” Eventually, local police assisted, uncovering a shoulder gunshot wound with medical supplies, amid continued bystander frustration.
City on Edge After Shooting
On Sunday night, Lincoln-Goldfinch updated that Garces Perez’s wife was prevented from seeing him at Dell Seton Medical Center. Information about his stable condition reached them only after intervention by Austin Mayor Kirk Watson at the hospital.
The attorney suggests Garces Perez may have been transferred to federal detention. Austin officials expressed anger over the shooting, drawing parallels to a prior incident involving a Mexican national. Mayor Watson criticized ICE, suggesting city police involvement in the investigation for impartial oversight.
U.S. Representative Greg Casar, representing Texas’ 35th Congressional District, publicly demanded that Garces Perez not be deported and receive adequate medical care. On social media, he highlighted the importance of Garces Perez as a key witness.
A DHS spokesperson reiterated Garces Perez’s status as an “illegal alien” in communication with Newsweek. Homeland Security Investigations, alongside the FBI, is leading the officer-involved shooting investigation. The spokesperson affirmed Garces Perez’s stable condition and federal custody pending removal.
This is an ongoing situation, and updates will follow as more information is accessible.
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