The individual who was shot and injured by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent on Sunday in Austin, Texas, has been identified as Wilber Rafael Garces Perez. He is a 28-year-old man from Venezuela who was working as a food delivery driver for DoorDash at the time of the incident.
The shooting occurred around 1 p.m. local time in the vicinity of Anderson Square and Research Boulevard, located on the city’s north side. While details of the incident are still being investigated, it has been clarified by Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis that local police officers were not involved in the shooting.
In a press conference on Sunday, Robert Luckritz, Chief of Austin-Travis County EMS, stated that he believes Garces Perez was struck once in the torso. Emergency medical services transported him to Dell Seton Medical Center within nine minutes of arrival, where he was treated for serious yet stable conditions.
Garces Perez’s identity was confirmed by immigration attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, who reported to CBS that he was actively delivering an order for DoorDash when he was shot. Garces Perez reportedly contacted his wife from his vehicle, expressing his distress and pain.
According to Lincoln-Goldfinch, Garces Perez was discharged from Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas on Sunday night and subsequently transferred to what is believed to be ICE custody. She informed NPR that Garces Perez is married to a woman who possesses legal status in the United States. Though Lincoln-Goldfinch stated that he initially entered the United States lawfully, she did not provide details on his current immigration status.
A spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security referred to Garces Perez as an “illegal alien” in a statement to Newsweek. The department, along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is actively investigating the shooting. According to the statement, Garces Perez entered the U.S. during the Biden administration and was under a final order of removal. It was clarified that he remains in stable condition and is in federal custody pending deportation.
This story is developing, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
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