Austin Police Release Bodycam Footage of Migrant Shooting After ICE Arrest Attempt
Video shows the moments after a Venezuelan migrant was shot by ICE officers during an attempted arrest.
Austin police on Tuesday released body camera footage capturing the aftermath of a shooting involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and an illegal Venezuelan immigrant. The incident occurred Sunday as ICE officers attempted to take 28-year-old Wilber Rafael Garces Perez into custody.
The released footage, comprising three short video clips, shows the local police response to the shooting. In one video, the sound of three gunshots can be heard. Another clip shows an officer arriving at the scene to find Garces Perez sitting in the driver's seat of his vehicle, appearing to be in pain and holding his left shoulder.
Officers in body cameras assisted Garces Perez out of the vehicle before placing him under arrest. One officer is heard asking in Spanish, "¿Tiene armas?" (Do you have weapons?), to which Garces Perez replies, "No." An officer later notes, "He's got… looks like one gunshot wound so far."
Garces Perez was reportedly delivering a DoorDash order when the incident occurred. His attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, stated that an unmarked truck chased her client and sideswiped his vehicle before he was shot. Authorities confirmed that Garces Perez had a final order of removal, though his attorney contends that he received the order after a hearing notice was sent to a previous address despite him having updated his contact information with the court.
ICE released a statement addressing the incident, disputing rumors and clarifying Garces Perez's legal status. The agency stated that his work permit, which expired in 2025, does not confer legal status in the United States. ICE also reported that Garces Perez was released from the hospital and subsequently taken to an ICE detention facility, where he was provided a bed. The agency refuted allegations that Garces Perez was indiscriminately targeted, emphasizing that he was the subject of a "targeted vehicle stop" due to his immigration status. ICE further stated, "Resisting officers and evading arrest is dangerous for our officers, illegal aliens, and the public. We remind the public that resisting officers and evading arrest is a felony and a federal crime. Sanctuary politicians need to stop encouraging this dangerous behavior that puts our officers and the public at risk."