ICE Agent Shoots Man in Austin, Sparking Protests and Calls for Investigation
A shooting involving an ICE agent in Austin led to clashes between protesters and police, with lawmakers demanding an independent probe and body camera footage release.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and seriously wounded a man in Austin on Sunday, an incident that triggered a standoff, clashes with police, and demands from a Democratic congressman for an independent investigation.
The confrontation occurred under an overpass in north Austin following a traffic stop and a brief foot pursuit involving the federal agent, according to preliminary accounts from local officials.
The injured man, identified by his attorney as 29-year-old Venezuelan national Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, sustained a gunshot wound to his torso and was hospitalized in serious but stable condition.
Witnesses reported hearing gunshots and described seeing an ICE agent with a man who appeared to have been shot. These accounts have not been independently confirmed by authorities, who stated that the investigation is in its early stages and the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unclear.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis indicated that a foot pursuit may have been involved but emphasized the limited information available and the ongoing nature of the investigation. Austin police were not involved in the shooting itself.
Onlookers told the Daily Mail that the man took off on foot after his car came to a stop and was subsequently shot.
The shooting quickly drew an angry response. A crowd of protesters, many waving Mexican flags, gathered near the overpass, shouting anti-ICE slogans and questioning whether the agent involved had been arrested.
Protesters began throwing rocks and water bottles at riot police, who responded with pepper balls. Local reports indicated that officers later used chemical agents to disperse the crowd.
Questions have arisen regarding the events leading up to the shooting. Democratic Rep. Greg Casar, whose district includes Austin, called for a full, independent investigation and the immediate release of body-camera footage. "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," Casar stated.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson also advocated for local police involvement in the investigation, preferring a third-party review over an internal ICE inquiry. Watson confirmed Perez was in serious but stable condition.
Casar drew parallels to other recent shootings involving federal immigration agents, citing the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston in July, which remains under investigation. "This is a pattern. This is a disturbing pattern," Casar said.
Federal authorities had not released a comprehensive account of the encounter as of Sunday evening.