ICE Shooting in North Austin Leaves DoorDash Driver Hospitalized
Cyberzenhub.com – A 28-year-old DoorDash delivery driver was shot during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in North Austin on Sunday, triggering protests near the scene and sharp criticism from city leaders.
The injured man, identified by his attorneys as Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, suffered a gunshot wound to the torso and was taken to a local hospital. During a news conference, officials said he was in serious but stable condition.
Garces Perez was making deliveries for DoorDash when the encounter occurred, his legal team and the company confirmed. His attorneys later said he had been released from the hospital and placed in ICE custody at a location that had not been disclosed.
“We’ve not heard from ICE. No one has updated [his wife] about his care or how he is doing, and she has not spoken to him yet. So, we will be pursuing justice.”
The statement from the law firm underscored the family’s concerns about his medical condition and whereabouts after the shooting.
Vehicle damage and witness video
The incident unfolded Sunday afternoon near Research Boulevard and Anderson Square in North Austin. A blue Toyota Corolla at the location had bullet holes and visible damage on its passenger-side doors.
Video recorded shortly after the shooting shows Garces Perez bent forward in the driver’s seat while federal officers stand around the sedan. In Spanish, he can be heard saying that he was shot because he did not “brake.” Later footage shows him in handcuffs as officers cut open his shirt, revealing a wound on his back.
The Texas Department of Public Safety said it had been called to assist with a vehicle pursuit. By the time state personnel arrived, someone had already been shot. DPS rangers are working with Austin police on the investigation.
An Austin City Council member said local police were not allowed to conduct the crime-scene investigation, describing the site as being controlled by ICE and Homeland Security Investigations. That assertion has intensified questions over which agencies will provide a public account of the events that led to gunfire.
Federal investigation and custody
The Department of Homeland Security said Homeland Security Investigations, assisted by the FBI, is leading the review of the officer-involved shooting. Its statement described Garces Perez as a Venezuelan national who entered the United States unlawfully during the Biden administration and had a final order of removal.
“The illegal alien’s condition is stable, and he is in federal custody pending removal.”
Federal officials characterized the operation as a targeted enforcement action and said Garces Perez was believed to have been the intended target. The department said it would provide additional information as it became available.
The distinction between the federal inquiry and Austin’s local response remains important for residents seeking clarity. The shooting occurred on city streets, but the operation involved federal immigration authorities, with state and local agencies playing more limited roles after the confrontation.
Mayor condemns shooting
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said he was furious over the shooting and argued that the public deserves a clear explanation from ICE.
“While I’m angry and disappointed, I’m not surprised. This has happened in other cities. With the rogue nature of ICE and the chaos we’re seeing fomented by ICE, there’s no reason to be surprised. Austinites have a right to know what happened and they have a right to feel safe in their community.”
Watson’s remarks reflected broader local concern following the arrival of protesters at the scene. His statement did not address the specific actions taken by Garces Perez or the officer before the shooting, details that remain central to the investigation.
DoorDash’s confirmation that Garces Perez was working at the time adds another dimension to the case. Delivery drivers routinely spend long hours navigating commercial corridors, apartment complexes, and neighborhood streets, often relying on their vehicles as both transportation and workplace. The shooting has raised questions about how enforcement operations affect people engaged in ordinary work during such encounters.
Key unresolved issues include what prompted the attempted stop or pursuit, whether warnings were given, how many shots were fired, and what evidence investigators will release. The available video captures the aftermath rather than the beginning of the confrontation, leaving the sequence immediately before the gunfire unclear.
For Garces Perez’s family, the immediate concerns are his recovery and contact with him while he remains in federal custody. For Austin officials and residents, the episode has become a test of transparency following a serious use-of-force incident involving federal immigration authorities.
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