A 28-year-old Venezuelan man was shot and wounded by a federal immigration agent in north Austin on Sunday, prompting calls from local officials for a broader and independent investigation into what led to the shooting.
The man, identified by his immigration attorney as Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, was shot shortly before 1 p.m. near the intersection of Anderson Square and U.S. 183. Austin-Travis County EMS Chief Robert Luckritz said the man appeared to have suffered a gunshot wound to the torso.
He was taken to Dell Seton Medical Center in serious but stable condition, according to local officials. His attorney later said he was released from the hospital and transferred into what she believed was ICE custody.
Perez’s family was still trying to determine where he was being held and obtain more information about his condition, according to attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch. She said Perez had been working on a DoorDash delivery when the shooting happened. DoorDash confirmed that he was making a delivery at the time and said the company was looking into the incident.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting were still developing Monday.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said the incident involved a traffic stop and a brief foot pursuit, but she stressed that investigators were still working to establish exactly what happened. Austin police officers were not involved in the shooting itself, although local investigators responded afterward.
The Texas Department of Public Safety said it received a request from ICE for assistance with a vehicle pursuit around 12:50 p.m. Sunday. State troopers arrived after the shooting had already occurred.
A damaged dark blue Toyota Corolla was left beneath the overpass near the scene. The vehicle had visible damage and what appeared to be bullet holes before it was later towed away.
Perez’s immigration status has also become part of the dispute surrounding the case. Federal law enforcement sources said ICE agents were attempting to arrest a Venezuelan man who was in the United States unlawfully and had a final order of removal. Those sources identified that man as Perez.
His attorney has given a different account of his immigration history, saying she believed he had entered the United States lawfully. She later said she did not know his current immigration status or whether there was a final removal order.
That disagreement has not been resolved publicly.
The lack of information about the shooting has added to concerns from Austin officials, who want local authorities to have a role in examining the incident.
Mayor Kirk Watson said he wanted Austin police involved so there would be independent oversight of the investigation. He questioned whether an investigation conducted solely by federal immigration authorities would provide enough public confidence.
The Travis County District Attorney’s Office also said local police and prosecutors should be included and requested cooperation from federal authorities in obtaining evidence connected to the shooting.
U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, who represents part of Austin, has called for an independent investigation and the release of available body-camera footage. Other demonstrators and community members gathered near the shooting location Sunday as the investigation continued.
The incident also raised questions about what happened to Perez after he was treated at the hospital. His attorney said his family was not given clear information about his location after he was released and that they had difficulty getting an update about his condition.
As of the latest reports, federal authorities had not publicly provided a detailed account of what prompted the agent to fire or explained the sequence of events leading up to the shooting.
Investigators now face the task of determining what happened during the traffic stop and pursuit, what led to the use of a firearm and whether additional video or other evidence can clarify the encounter.
For Austin residents, the investigation is likely to remain under close attention as federal and local authorities work to establish a complete account of Sunday’s shooting.
