A Venezuelan man working as a delivery driver was seriously wounded Sunday afternoon after being shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in North Austin. The victim, identified by his attorney as 28 year old Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, was reportedly making a DoorDash delivery at the time of the incident. According to Austin Travis County EMS officials, Garces Perez suffered a gunshot wound to the torso and was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.

Details surrounding the encounter remain contentious between legal representatives and federal authorities. Attorney Kate Lincoln Goldfinch stated that Garces Perez is an asylum seeker who entered the country via a parole program and has no criminal record. However, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security claimed that the man entered the country illegally and was subject to a final order of removal. Social media footage appearing to show the event captures tires screeching and several gunshots firing as an individual exits an SUV and approaches a blue sedan, which later appeared with bullet holes in its rear window.

The aftermath of the shooting has sparked outrage among local leaders and family members due to reported obstacles in accessing the victim. His lawyer alleged that she and Garces Perez’s wife were initially lied to about his presence at Dell Seton Medical Center and were eventually escorted off the grounds by officers treating them like trespassers. It was only after intervention from Austin Mayor Kirk Watson that hospital administrators confirmed Garces Perez had been released directly into ICE custody.

Mayor Watson expressed anger over the incident during a press conference, noting that while he was upset by a federal agent shooting someone on Austin streets, he was not surprised given recent trends. This event occurs amidst a significant surge in ICE enforcement nationwide, with monthly arrests reaching historic highs this past summer. U.S Representative Greg Casar has since demanded an independent investigation and the immediate release of any available body camera footage to ensure accountability for those involved.