Turning Point USA Slams Lawyer for ICE Shooting Victim Over Deleted Charlie Kirk Post

Turning Point USA (TPUSA) has responded sharply to the attorney representing a Venezuelan man shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Austin, Texas. The organization's spokesman, Andrew Kolvet, criticized attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch and her client, Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, after a deleted social media post by Lincoln-Goldfinch referenced the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Kolvet, who is also the executive producer of "The Charlie Kirk Show," stated that TPUSA supports the ICE officers involved in the incident. "We stand with our brave men and women of ICE who are defending American sovereignty and keeping American citizens safe," Kolvet said. He added, "While everyone is entitled to their defense, it’s not surprising the quality of lawyer an illegal alien from Venezuela attracts who had a final notice of deportation before leading law enforcement on a dangerous high-speed chase. They seem a perfect match."

Lincoln-Goldfinch had drawn criticism for a social media post that questioned how one could resist being shot, invoking Kirk's name. The post was later removed, with Lincoln-Goldfinch stating to Fox News Digital that her office recognized the potential for misinterpretation and addressed the issue internally.

New details have emerged regarding the ICE operation that led to Garces Perez being shot. Surveillance footage confirms at least two federal law enforcement vehicles pursued Garces Perez's vehicle with lights and sirens activated before the shooting occurred. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) verified the authenticity of this video.

Lincoln-Goldfinch has contested the federal government's account, asserting that Garces Perez was working as a DoorDash driver when his car was struck by an unmarked vehicle and that he did not immediately realize he was being pursued by federal agents. She has also challenged the DHS's characterization of his immigration status.

DHS stated that Garces Perez is a Venezuelan national with a final order of removal and was the subject of a targeted vehicle stop. The department also indicated that his work authorization had expired in 2025 and disputed claims about his treatment post-shooting.

Austin police released body camera footage showing officers assisting Garces Perez after the shooting, though the video did not capture the incident itself. This footage contradicted earlier claims that federal agents had removed him from his vehicle.

The shooting has prompted legal action, with Lincoln-Goldfinch's firm filing a lawsuit to prevent Garces Perez's immediate removal. A federal judge has ordered that he remain in the country pending a hearing scheduled for September 30.

Investigations into the circumstances of the shooting are ongoing. Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the FBI, is leading the federal inquiry, while Austin authorities are also reviewing evidence related to the encounter.