Venezuelan Man Shot by ICE Agent During DoorDash Delivery in Austin
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and wounded a man in Austin, Texas, on Sunday while he was delivering food for DoorDash. The individual was identified as 28-year-old Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a Venezuelan national.
The incident occurred before 1 p.m. near Anderson Square and Research Boulevard in Austin’s north side. Details of the shooting are still under investigation. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis confirmed that the city’s police officers were not involved in the incident.
In a news conference, Chief of Austin-Travis County EMS, Robert Luckritz, reported that Garces Perez sustained a gunshot wound to the torso. Emergency medical services transported him to Dell Seton Medical Center within nine minutes of their arrival. He was listed in serious but stable condition.
Immigration attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch identified Garces Perez and informed CBS that he was executing his duty as a DoorDash driver at the time of the shooting. He reportedly called his wife from his vehicle, expressing pain.
DoorDash verified to CBS that Garces Perez was engaged in a delivery for the company when the shooting occurred. Lincoln-Goldfinch added that Garces Perez was discharged from Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas later that night and believed to be in ICE custody.
Lincoln-Goldfinch noted that Garces Perez is married to a U.S. resident and stated he had lawfully entered the United States, but did not specify his current immigration status.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) referred to Garces Perez as an “illegal alien” in a statement to Newsweek. DHS explained that Homeland Security Investigations, with help from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is leading the probe into the shooting.
They added that Garces Perez, who entered the United States under the Biden administration, had a final order of removal. He is in federal custody awaiting removal. The DHS confirmed that his condition remains stable.
This situation continues to develop and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.