Shooting of Venezuelan Delivery Driver by ICE Officer Sparks Controversy

Multiple social media videos have uncovered details surrounding the shooting of 28-year-old Venezuelan Wilber Rafael Garces Perez by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Austin. The incident unfolded just before 1 p.m. local time near Anderson Square and Research Boulevard in the city’s north side. Garces Perez, identified by immigration attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, was delivering food for DoorDash when a federal officer shot and wounded him.

DoorDash confirmed to Newsweek that Garces Perez was in the process of making a delivery when the shooting occurred. The company stated that they are actively investigating the event but have no additional details at this time. They also clarified that all Dashers are independent contractors, not employees.

It remains unclear whether Garces Perez was targeted during an immigration operation. Lincoln-Goldfinch mentioned that Garces Perez lawfully entered the country through a parole program and was an asylum seeker. She did not comment on his current immigration status. However, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson informed Newsweek that Garces Perez was an ‘illegal alien’ who ‘illegally entered our country under the Biden administration and had a final order of removal.’

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis stated during a news conference that Austin police officers were not involved in the incident. She acknowledged a ‘small foot pursuit’ before the shooting, though she admitted a lack of full details on the situation. Still, videos recorded by media members and bystanders provide insight into the incident’s specifics.

Bystander Videos Show Shooting, Aftermath

Austin resident Heidi Ann Clark was driving by the scene and livestreaming around 12:50 p.m. local time when she captured a fast-moving vehicle braking suddenly. Her camera showed an unmarked SUV halting near a blue Toyota Corolla, believed to belong to Garces Perez. An ICE agent exited the SUV, running toward the Toyota with a firearm. While a siren blared, three shots were fired soon after the agent left the vehicle. The blue car, still moving, stopped when the officer approached. Google Maps imagery suggests Clark filmed her video from across the bridge where the shooting took place.

A second video by Celena Ramos shows the scene after Austin Police Department officers arrived and secured the area. Another video, shared with Newsweek by Austin Council Member Mike Siegel’s office, depicts the aftermath. An agent exits a black vehicle and approaches the car while witnesses confront authorities, questioning the shooting and demanding medical help. The wounded driver sits grimacing, clutching his chest, as onlookers shout that he is dying and ask why no ambulance is present. Witnesses repeatedly challenge the agent, ‘Why do that to him?’ and ‘You’re not supposed to be doing that to people.’

The driver remains seated while bystanders shout, ‘He’s dying, my friend, he’s dying because you shot him,’ pressing for medical assistance and questioning the absence of an ambulance. After police arrival and ICE agents’ departure, officers discuss the incident. One officer confirms EMS is en route. He brings medical supplies, cutting away Garces Perez’s shirt to reveal an apparent gunshot wound on his left shoulder, with blood trickling down his back. Bystanders persist in their expressions of anger and frustration.

City on Edge After Shooting

Lincoln-Goldfinch reported that Garces Perez’s wife was not permitted to visit him at Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas. It was only after Austin Mayor Kirk Watson’s inquiry that they learned he was in stable condition. She indicated that he is likely in a federal detention center. The recent incident follows ICE’s shooting and killing of 52-year-old Mexican national Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, inflaming Austin officials. Watson expressed anger over the ICE shooting and emphasized the importance of Austin police involvement in the investigation for a transparent process.

U.S. Representative Greg Casar, representing Texas’ 35th Congressional District, which includes East Austin, took to social media, urging against Garces Perez’s removal, highlighting the significance of his testimony regarding the shooting. He stressed the necessity of ensuring the delivery driver receives proper medical care.

A DHS spokesperson reiterated Garces Perez’s status as an ‘illegal alien’ in a Newsweek statement, asserting that Homeland Security Investigations, with Federal Bureau of Investigation assistance, is leading the investigation into the officer-involved shooting. ‘The illegal alien’s condition is stable, and he is in federal custody pending removal. This is a developing situation, and we will update the public when more information becomes available.’