On the afternoon of September 20, 2026, an ICE officer opened fire on a man delivering food in the north side of Austin, Texas. The victim, later identified by his attorney as Wilber Rafael Garcés Perez a 28-year-old Venezuelan with a valid work permit, was struck once in the torso and rushed to Dell Seton Medical Center. Hospital staff reported that he was in a “serious but stable” condition before he was transferred into federal custody pending removal proceedings.
The incident unfolded during what witnesses described as a brief vehicle pursuit. Texas Department of Public Safety received a request for assistance from ICE after a blue Toyota Corolla, driven by the victim, was stopped under an overpass on Highway 183. Video captured by a by-stander shows the Corolla’s rear window riddled with bullet holes and the driver climbing out of a dark-colored SUV before gunfire erupts. The shots were heard as the SUV driver approached the Corolla, which then lurched forward before the officer fired.
Details of the shooting and immediate response
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, DPS troopers arrived after the gunfire had ceased. Their primary task was to render medical aid to the driver of the Corolla while securing the scene. The vehicle was later towed away, and the area was cleared by early evening. At the same time, a crowd of roughly one hundred demonstrators gathered, brandishing signs that read “Nobody is safe” and “ICE Nazi,” while some shouted curses at officers protecting the perimeter. Law enforcement responded with pepper-ball launchers after rocks and water bottles were thrown.
Federal and local authorities’ statements
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE issued a brief statement confirming the victim’s stable condition and his status in federal custody. Homeland Security Investigations, assisted by the FBI, announced it would lead an investigation into the shooting. Neither DHS nor the ICE office disclosed whether the officer involved was equipped with a body-camera. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis clarified that city officers were not part of the operation that led to the shooting, but her Special Investigation Unit was present to gather evidence. Mayor Kirk Watson emphasized the need for an independent review, stating that residents have a right to know “the truth” and that the city should provide “clear third-party eyes.”
Political reaction and community outcry
U.S. Representative Greg Casar (D-TX) called for an independent investigation, the release of any body-camera footage, and accountability for any officer who broke the law. He pledged a congressional briefing by September 28 and warned that ICE has a pattern of “shooting people and then lying about what happened.” Representative Joaquin Castro echoed the demand for “full accountability,” linking the incident to broader immigration policies reinstated under the previous administration. The League of United Latin American Citizens urged Congress to establish an independent oversight body for immigration enforcement. Local Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico also requested a full review of all available video.
Attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, representing Garcés Perez, reported that the hospital initially released the victim but later escorted the lawyer and the victim’s wife from the premises, leaving the family without clear updates on his condition or location. DoorDash confirmed that the employee was on a delivery at the time of the shooting and said the company is investigating, though no further details were released. The incident marks the second fatal shooting involving ICE in Texas this year and follows a July incident in Houston where an ICE officer killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo during a traffic stop.
