On Sunday, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and injured a man delivering food for DoorDash in Austin, Texas. The individual was identified as Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a 28-year-old from Venezuela.
The incident occurred near Anderson Square and Research Boulevard before 1 p.m. local time. Details surrounding the event remain unclear. Police Chief Lisa Davis confirmed that city police officers were not involved in the shooting.
During a press conference, Austin-Travis County EMS Chief Robert Luckritz commented that Garces Perez appeared to have sustained a single gunshot wound to the torso. Emergency medical services transported him to Dell Seton Medical Center swiftly, arriving within nine minutes. He was in serious but stable condition.
Immigration attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, speaking to CBS, disclosed that Garces Perez was on duty for DoorDash during the altercation. He contacted his wife from his vehicle, expressing distress and pain. DoorDash verified he was actively delivering food at the time of the shooting.
According to Lincoln-Goldfinch, Garces Perez was discharged from Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas on Sunday night and reportedly taken into ICE custody. Lincoln-Goldfinch stated that he is married to a U.S. legal resident and entered the country lawfully, but she did not provide details on his current immigration status.
The Department of Homeland Security labeled Garces Perez as an “illegal alien” in a statement given to Newsweek. They reported that Homeland Security Investigations, aided by the FBI, is overseeing the investigation related to the shooting during a law enforcement operation. They noted that he had a final order of removal and entered illegally under the current administration. He remains in federal custody, pending deportation.
The situation continues to develop, and authorities will release further information as it becomes available.
Leave a Reply