A Venezuelan national who was shot by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Austin, Texas, on Sunday has been identified by his family and lawyer as 28-year-old Wilber Rafael Garces Perez. He was taken to hospital after the shooting in North Austin. His current condition has not been publicly disclosed.
The incident happened on Sunday morning in the 7000 block of West Anderson Lane, near Research Boulevard and Anderson Square, according to local broadcaster KVUE.
The circumstances leading to the shooting remain unclear and authorities have not publicly confirmed key details surrounding the incident.
What Happened?
Local reporter Limon Verde told CBS Austin that the man had been shot twice in the back. Verde also described witness video sent to him. According to his account, an ICE SUV appeared to block the man’s vehicle before agents approached.
He said the footage appeared to show the man attempting to drive away before shots were fired. A blue Toyota Corolla at the scene had bullet holes and damage to its passenger-side door.
Video posted on social media by Beto Luna appeared to show an injured man inside the vehicle after the shooting. The man could be seen speaking to the person recording, although his words were not clear.
Authorities have not independently confirmed the details described in the witness accounts or the social media footage.
It was not immediately clear why ICE agents had approached Garces Perez.
Austin City Council member Mike Siegel, who was at the scene, told KVUE that the shooting was under federal investigation.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) confirmed that ICE was handling an investigation in the area, but did not confirm whether anyone had been shot or injured.
“ICE investigation confirmed in the 7000 block of West Anderson, ICE is handling investigation,” a DPS public information officer told Fox 7 Austin.
Austin officials said they would hold a news conference at City Hall to address what they described as an “Immigration and Customs Enforcement shooting”.
Mayor Kirk Watson, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis and Austin-Travis County EMS Chief Robert Luckritz were scheduled to speak.
US Representative Greg Casar, whose district includes part of Austin, called for an independent investigation and the release of body-camera footage. “The horror has come to our city: ICE has shot a person in Austin this morning,” Casar said. “As the facts emerge, I am demanding a full, independent investigation, immediate release of the body camera footage, and accountability for any ICE officer who broke the law.”
In a separate post, Casar said: “Over and over, ICE has shot people and then lied about what happened. We will demand truth, transparency and accountability.”
